Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (7/11/22)
The Beast is back!
BROCK LESNAR is ready to turn San Antonio into Suplex City!
With less than three weeks before SummerSlam’s Last Man Standing match, Monday Night Raw sees the return of BRRROCK! LESNARRR! Will everyone steer clear of him? Or will someone end up an appetizer for The Beast?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Finn Balor w/ Damian Priest; Balor wins.
- Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair VS Carmella; Mella wins by count out, Bianca retains the title.
- 2v1 Handicap: The Miz & Tommaso Ciampa VS AJ Styles; changed to…
- AJ Styles & Ezekiel VS The Miz & Tommaso Ciampa; Styles & Ezekiel win.
- Alexa Bliss & Asuka VS Nikki A.S.H. & “Doudrop” Piper Niven; Alexa & Asuka win.
- Angelo Dawkins w/ Montez Ford VS Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso; changed to…
- Six Man Tag: R-Truth & The Street Profits VS The Usos & Omos w/ MVP; Omos & The Usos win.
- Bobby Lashley & Matt Riddle VS Seth Rollins & (Austin) Theory; Lashley & Riddle win.
PLAY BY PLAY
BROCK LESNAR is here!
And San Antonio is fired up as he waves his hat and takes a bow. Brock’s pyro is a step behind, but he still goes down to the ring, fist bumping fans on the way. Fans chant Lesnar’s name and he has the mic to say, “Well God bless Texas!” Fans cheer that! Lesnar says with an intro like that, it’d be rude to leave his hat on so he’ll show some manners. He puts his hat up on the post and says that we just saw a little bit ago in a short recap, life is good for Roman Reigns. Since WrestleMania, Roman’s been living high on the hog, flying private jets and eating like a king. But there’s an old saying that came from right here in Texas: “Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered!”
Lesnar tells Roman that he is a hog. And Lesnar slaughters hogs on his farm every single day. “At SummerSlam, the Tribal Hog is gonna get a country ass kicking to the likes he’s never seen.” But ladies and gentlemen, Paul Heyman introduces himself. And he assures us, they on the Island of Relevancy are booing, too. Fans boo Heyman louder and Lesnar says, “Speaking of hogs…” Well that’s not neighborly of you, Texas. Fans chant, “You Suck!” at Heyman now. Heyman says despite our differences, Brock Lesnar doesn’t suck. But ladies and gentlemen- Lesnar says three little piggies went to town. Oink oink oink, is Heyman gonna say something worthwhile?
Heyman asks, “You know what bothers me? We’ve gone from the Most Stupendous WrestleMania of all time to the most BARBARIC SummerSlam of all time, and that plays right into your hands,” Lesnar. The odds-on favorite in a Last Man Standing Match is Brock Lesnar. Why? Because Roman Reigns defined his greatness by athletically beating down, smashing the opposition, pinning them, making them tap out, in athletic competition. But we all defined Lesnar’s legacy by annihilating people and putting them down for good! By breaking their bodies, by conquering streaks and ending careers!
So if Lesnar has to put Roman down for the count of ten, that is what Lesnar is going to do! It doesn’t matter to Lesnar if he puts Roman down for 10, or for 100, or if he just sends Roman to the hospital, or even to the morgue! That’s not a man! That’s a BEAST! A HOG SLAUGHTERER! AN ANNIHILATOR! AN AVENGING BADASS… who wants revenge on Heyman’s Tribal Chief! Heyman gives us his word on something, though. We’re approaching 700 DAYS of Roman as champion. And Lesnar, “this is one streak you will not conquer.” Heyman will have Roman ready for Lesnar at SummerSlam, to put Lesnar down!
If Heyman has to train Roman Reigns to stick his hand up Lesnar’s ASS, and then pull Lesnar’s heart out from that hole, that is what His Tribal Chief is going to do to something like Lesnar! Before Lesnar can respond, (Austin) Theory appears! Theory says SummerSlam is going to be one of the greatest nights in WWE history. Because Theory takes back his WWE US Championship, and then he’ll sit back and watch the “Match of Mass Destruction.” See, after that match, Theory won’t run down to the ring, he’ll walk out, holding up the MITB contract, hand it to the official, cash-in, and then put a foot on either Lesnar’s chest or Roman’s chest, and the announcer will say… “AND NEW, Youngest, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion of the World… THEORY!”
Fans boo and Lesnar shrugs. Why not try it right now? Theory says it doesn’t matter if Lesnar wins or if Roman wins, because the way they’re talking about the outcome, it will be life altering. And Mr. Heyman, Theory says he should listen to Lesnar. Theory has some footage of his own from the Elimination Chamber that shows Lesnar doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself! He doesn’t care about anyone’s life but his own! Theory is talking about when Lesnar dribbled Theory off Plexiglas to then F5 him to the floor from the top of a pod! Fans cheer that and Lesnar is smiling. Theory tells everyone to shut up!
Theory tells Heyman that what we just saw could end up being Roman Reigns. He could be just a heap of humanity, sitting their motionless. But that footage wasn’t just for Roman. It’s for Lesnar to know that Theory didn’t forget! Well what do we have here? Lesnar comes to down, and all the roaches show up! The Alpha Academy have crept out from the shadows and are flanking the ring. But Lesnar throws off his jacket and welcomes Otis into the ring! Theory says to go get him, and Gable CHOP BLOCKS a leg! Lesnar hobbles and Otis RAMS him into a corner! But Lesnar is standing and smiling! Lesnar CLOBBERS Otis, then OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes Gable!
Lesnar then CLOBBERS Otis out of the ring! The Alpha Academy flounders but Lesnar is after them both! He pulls off the steel steps to RAM Gable, then RAM Otis! And then he RAMS Gable again! And RAMS Otis again! Lesnar tosses the steps into the ring while Heyman is in shock! Lesnar grabs a chair, brings it over and SMACKS Gable! And again! And then Lesnar SMACKS Otis! Lesnar drags Gable up to then OVERHEAD Belly2Belly him again! Otis flounders up to his feet, and Lesnar fireman’s carries him to F5Â onto the announce desk!! Fans are losing their minds as Lesnar just wrecked the Wrecking Ball! And then Lesnar fetches his hat.
Will Roman be ready for the most vicious, most brutal, most heinous fight of his life?
Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Finn Balor w/ Damian Priest!
After the Mysterios made the Prince look like a fool, The Judgement Day attacked backstage to ruin the celebration. But will the King of Lucha get the better of Balor again? Or will Finn have some tricks of his own?
Raw returns as the Judgement Day makes their entrance. They and the Mysterios stare down, and Priest has the mic. “All rise.” Fans boo but Priest says to RISE and show proper respect to The Judgement Day! Priest tells Dominik that what happened last week was justice. For the old guard, for the way things used to be. In two weeks, Madison Square Garden, Mysterio celebrates 20 YEARS in the WWE. But face it, Rey, you’re done. Washed up, over. Rey has nothing left to offer Dominik. All he has is an ugly mask and some old, tired circus tricks that weren’t even his! However, The Judgement Day has something more. A new set of rules! Sounds good, right?
“The future of this business will be decided by The Judgement Day, and you’re welcome to join it, man.” But the fans don’t matter. Join them, step out of Rey’s shadow and blaze your own path! Live your own life and rise with the Judgement Day, or continue to fall alongside Rey. Finn has Priest calm down. But when is Dom going to learn to see things their way? Does Dom think Daddy can protect him? Ooo~, Rey the legend~! But Edge is a legend and we all saw what happened to him! Let’s look! Footage plays of last month when Finn joined to EJECT Edge from the faction. Edge is GONE, no longer coming back, adios!
And why? Because he was a bad leader. And just like Finn said before, Rey is a bad leader AND a bad father! Fans boo but Rey hopes Dom isn’t listening to this. Dom looks between everyone, but then Rey DECKS Finn! Dom and Rey DOUBLE DROPKICK Priest! The father and son double whip Finn, but Priest gets Finn out of there! Will Rey finish this with Finn? We’ll find out, after the break.
Raw returns again and Finn CHOKES Rey on the ropes as this match is underway! The ref counts, Finn lets off but Priest gets a sucker punch in! Finn drags Rey up, whips him but Rey holds ropes to block. Finn kicks low, whips corner to corner, but runs into an elbow! Rey runs, slides under and KICKS Finn to then KICK him again. Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl RANA! Finn bails out but Rey takes aim to PLANCHA! Direct hit and down goes Finn! Dom fans his father off and Rey puts Finn in. Rey hurries in but Finn scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Finn CLUBS Rey down and then bends him back!
Rey endures the chinlock stretch but fans rally up. Dom coaches his dad up but Finn drops an elbow! Cover, TWO! Rey gets away to a corner but Finn storms over. Finn stands Rey up to RAM a shoulder into his back! And then Finn brings Rey up for another BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Finn sits Rey up to drive an elbow in, and then clamps on a chinlock! Rey endures, fans rally up, and Rey fights up to throw elbows! Rey is free but Finn knees low! Finn suplexes, and holds on for Uno Amigo! Fans boo as Finn CLUBS Rey down, only needing the one. Finn drags Rey up at the apron, but Rey blocks the buckle bump to BUMP Finn!
Rey goes up the corner, but Finn CHOP BLOCKS a leg! Rey gets stuck in the Tree of Woe, but then falls right out! Rey clutches a leg but Finn gets that very leg to hold in the ropes! The ref counts, Finn lets off, but then grabs the leg again to wrap it back around. Finn stomps the leg and Rey flops to the floor! Dom goes out to check on his dad but Finn goes out to tell Dom to watch. Finn puts Rey in but Rey WRECKS Finn with a dropkick! Rey runs to SLIDING SUNSET BOMB! Finn hits barriers and both men are down as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Finn is up top but Rey fires off haymakers! Rey then climbs up after Finn to SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO! Priest is relieved but Dom fires the fans back up. Finn grabs at Rey’s bad leg but Rey ENZIGURIS! Finn is on the ropes! Rey dials it up, 619! Rey hurries on one good leg to climb up the corner! FROG SPLASH FLOPS as Finn moves! Finn says he’s too smart, but then Rey GHOST PINS! TWO!! Finn escapes and surprises himself! Finn snarls and he hurries after Rey. Rey is on the apron, he shoulders into Finn and throws more haymakers, Rey slingshots but Finn turns it into a gut wrench, ELBOW DROP DDT! Cover, TWO!
Priest and Finn are both frustrated but Finn drags Rey up. Suplex, but Rey slips out! The bad leg jams, and Finn dragon sleepers for the inverted suplex, BLOODY SUNDAY! Finn hurries up top now, COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Finn wins!
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall
Dom gets in to check on his dad, but Finn and Priest stare him down. Finn says this only proves him right. Will Dom side with them and their dark ways? Or will Dom stay beside his father and legacy?
Becky Lynch is here!
And Raw is Big Time because she is here to watch the Raw Women’s Championship rematch from Money in the Bank!
Raw returns and Becky stands on the desk with a mic. “I was devastated when I didn’t win MITB after everything I’d been through to get in, and I kinda lost my mind a little bit. But then, I sat with myself and I realized, cashing in say the way Liv did, well that’s like winning the lottery, isn’t it? And I don’t NEED to win the lottery because I work my ass off every week for a paycheck!” So therefore, Becky dragged her broken, bruised body through that No Holds Barred match against Asuka, and that should have automatically made her as #1 Contender! But no~! It’s MELLA! Mella gets her rematch!!
So uh, Becky is going blue in the face saying this, but she should just have been given her rematch on the Monday after WrestleMania, but NO~! No, she is made to jump through hoops and work her way back to the top, and being denied what is rightfully hers! And so tonight… Well, she doesn’t give a damn who wins! Becky DEMANDS a championship match at SummerSlam! Becky slams the mic down and glares at the ring as Bianca Belair makes her entrance.
Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair VS Carmella!
The EST dealt with the (self-proclaimed) Most Beautiful Woman in the WWE already, but if she wants that whooping again, then Bianca is more than happy to give it. Will Mella again miss out on the gold? Or will Mella be money on the road to SummerSlam?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who brings this title to Tennessee!
Mella rushes in, Bianca picks her up and RAMS her into a corner! Bianca RAMS into Mella more, lets off at the ref’s count of 4, then whips corner to corner. Bianca runs in but Mella BOOTS back! Mella throws Bianca down by her hair, then smiles and soaks up the heat. Becky likes that as Mella pie faces the “TackiEST.” Mella runs, but gets run over! Bianca dusts off her hands and then dares Mella to do something. Mella bails out instead so Bianca drags Mella up to SMACK her off the desk! Bianca tells Becky she’s next. Becky talks trash back but Corey Graves tells Becky to focus because Mella will get her. We’ll have to wait and see while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Mella thrashes Bianca around in a chinlock. Bianca endures and fans rally up. Bianca fights up, throws body shots, then shoves Mella way. Mella ducks and tilt-o-whirls, but Bianca blocks that to get a BACKBREAKER! Mella writhes and Becky is annoyed, but Bianca runs in, into a BOOT! Mella goes up to get Bianca with a HANGING HEADSCISSORS! The ref counts, Mella lets off at 4, and she climbs up again to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Mella hurries to Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Bianca is in the corner, Mella DROPKICKS her into buckles! Fans boo but Mella soaks up the heat.
Bianca scowls as she gets up. Mella talks trash, digs her boots in, but the ref counts. Mella lets off at 4, climbs up the corner again, but fans rally for the “E S T! E S T!” Mella leaps, into Bianca’s arms! Bianca slips Mella around into the LongEST Suplex, and SLAM! Becky is annoyed again while both women are down. Fans rally for Bianca and she gets up. Bianca runs in to run Mella over! Bianca bumps Mella off buckles, then more buckles, then more buckles! Bianca stomps Mella, whips her corner to corner, but Mella reverses. Bianca goes up and over and handsprings, then she catches Mella to chicken wings! GLAM- NO, roll through! TWO, Bianca has it now!
TWO but Bianca uses that to go up the corner and say, “Kiss this!” Mella scowls, but Bianca flip sup and over and chicken wings, GlamEST Slam! Becky is beside herself as Bianca runs, but Mella anchors a foot! Bianca kicks her, STANDING MOONSAULT onto knees! FABULOUS KICK! Cover, TWO! Becky looks at Mella with some disappointment and Mella is beside herself. Bianca gets up and Mella aims again, FABU- NO! Bianca gets under the kick to lift Mella up for a BUCKLE BOMB! Then a torture rack! Melal grabs ropes for dear life but she can’t hold on! Mella uses her FEET now! Bianca still gets Mella loose, KISS OF- FACEBUSTER?!? Cover, TWO!!!
Mella is shocked and Becky is surprised, too! Bianca survives the counter and Mella grits her teeth. Mella hears the fans cheering Bianca on and gets mad. Mella fires off fast hands on Bianca in the corner, but lets off at 4. Mella then throws heavy back elbows! Only to get caught into a full nelson! And then spun around for shoulder after shoulder into the corner! Bianca lets off, gets Mella around, and POWER- NO, Mella slips out, so Bianca LARIATS! Bianca CLUBS away on Mella’s back, shoves her and pops her up, SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Mella is still in this but Bianca shakes her head. Bianca runs in but Mella dumps her out!
Mella aims but Bianca trips her up. Mella boots Bianca away, kicks at her, but Bianca trips Mella up! Bianca shoves Mella into the ring, goes up the corner, but Mella scrambles away! Fans boo as Mella wants to chicken out, but Bianca rushes after her! Bianca suplexes, and she holds Mella up. Mella fights out, and CLAWS Bianca’s eyes! But Bianca POSTS Mella in revenge! The ring count is climbing past 5 of 10, Bianca gets Mella in, but Becky rushes over! Bianca is ready, the count is climbing! It’s 10, Bianca loses!!
Winner: Carmella, by count-out; Bianca is still Raw Women’s Champion
Mella celebrates like she won this on her own, but she is forgetting Champion’s Advantage. Becky just wanted to make Bianca lose, but Bianca loses her cool! She SHOVES Mella down, and hits a KISS OF DEATH!! Bianca holds the belt up because she is still the RawEST Women’s Champion! Will she also be the angriEST when she finally gets her hands on Big Time Becks again?
The mysterious video plays again.
The lights. The cemetery. The gold medal, the license plate, the armbands.
The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa are here!
The Hollywood A-Lister is hosting another episode of MizTV, and tonight’s guest is Miz’s Guardian Psycho! What will they both have to say about AJ Styles after the break?
Raw returns and he welcomes us to the Most Must-See WWE Talk Show, and he formally introduces his guest. This man, since his debut on Raw, has mercilessly attacked multiple superstars, including their opponent in tonight’s 2v1 Handicap Match, AJ Styles. Ladies and gentlemen, get up out of your seats for CIAMPA! Fans boo instead but Ciampa still smiles. Miz welcomes Ciampa to the show, and he has to ask for an explanation as to Ciampa’s actions. Ciampa says it is simple: He wants the eyes of the world on Ciampa, and no one commands attention more than The Miz. That is CORRECT! Who else has a hit reality show directly following Raw tonight? Only The Miz!
Ciampa is talking to the right person. Miz guided a social media icon in Logan Paul and made him into a WWE Superstar. With Miz’s help, Logan beat the great tag team of Rey & Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania. And that’s what Ciampa wants! He wants WrestleMania! He wants SummerSlam! He wants opportunity! He wants it ALL!! Miz says yes, that is what they all want. And Miz tried to hand Logan Paul that same opportunity. Did Logan thank Miz for that? NO. Logan responded on social media with a video. Logan told Miz and everyone that he is NOT changing his mind about what he said, he is NOT Miz’s tag partner or friend.
Logan said it when he signed the contract, and will say it now: Logan Paul is coming after The Miz at SummerSlam. Understand? Miz tells Logan Paul that he knows what this is. Logan is stirring up controversy! It gets people talking! And no one does it better than them! So this is the last chance. Logan can retract his original statement and join Miz to become Undisputed Tag Team Champions, or… Miz will find someone else. And Miz doesn’t have to look very far. Right, Ciampa? Tonight, they will show the Phenomenal One just how great they are! All the eyes will be on Ciampa & Miz! But speaking of, here comes AJ Styles!
Styles has a mic to say, “Enough, enough, enough. Miz, do us all a favor and shut your mouth! No one cares what you have to say, especially me.” Every time Styles’ back is turned, he gets attacked by either Ciampa or Miz, and that’s a fact. Miz, this sounds like you got someone to do your dirty work. And that’ snot brave, powerful or anything like that. That sounds like the actions of a man who- DON’T YOU DARE! Miz won’t have it, but the fans are already chanting, “TINY BALLS! TINY BALLS!” Ciampa tells them to stop that, but that only makes them chant it more. Miz keeps telling Styles to stop, but Styles says he was just going to say it sounds like the actions of a coward.
Oh… Is that all he was going to say? But also one with tiny, tiny balls. Miz and Ciampa are furious, but then Styles gets in and starts swinging one of the chairs! Miz and Ciampa bail out, Styles CHUCKS the chairs at them! And wait, maybe Styles won’t be alone in this! EZEKIEL heads out to the ring! “I am very sorry to interrupt, but AJ, I realized something. In all my time here on Monday Night Raw, I haven’t had a chance to introduce myself. I’m Ezekiel. I’m Elias’ younger brother. And Elias used to talk about how truly phenomenal you really are, inside the ring and outside. And the matches you guys had, well, they were in a word, phenomenal.”
Zeke says another thing Elias told him, almost obsessively, was that Miz has tiny balls. Miz is speechless that Zeke is getting on the trolling, too. But Zeke went ahead and talked to Adam Pearce, and they agreed that this would be more #ZekedUp if this was a tag match! Styles & Zeke VS Ciampa & Miz! If Styles will have him, that is. Miz protests but Styles shakes Zeke’s hand! Will Ciampa & Miz grow a pair to take on a pair of opponents?
AJ Styles & Ezekiel VS The Miz & Tommaso Ciampa!
Raw returns and Zeke ties up with Ciampa, but Ciampa knees low! Ciampa wrenches, wristlocks, but Zeke wrenches and headlocks. Ciampa powers up and out but Zeke runs him over. Things speed up, Ciampa hip tosses but Zeke gest a headlock takeover! Fans rally and Zeke grinds Ciampa down. Ciampa fights up, powers Zeke to a corner, but the ref counts. Ciampa lets off at 4 to kick and ROCK Zeke! Ciampa CHOPS Zeke, wrenches and whips him corner to corner, but Zeke goes up to MULE KICK! Ciampa staggers, Zeke runs in to CHOP! And throw body shots and CLUB Ciampa on the back. Zeke ROCKS Ciampa, whips him to ropes, but Ciampa holds ropes.
Ciampa BOOTS Zeke, tags Miz, and Miz runs, into a hip toss! Zeke drags Miz over, tags Styles in, and Styles CLUBS the arm. Styles ROCKS and CHOPS Miz, then whips him to ropes. Miz KICKS Styles, but Styles DROPKICKS Miz! Styles drags Miz up, bumps him off buckles, and then bumps him off more buckles. Fans rally for Styles as he RAMS into Miz at the corner, then Styles tags Zeke. Zeke stomps Miz, brings him around to a headlock, but Miz pulls hair to put Zeke in the corner. Ciampa tags in and they mug Zeke. Ciampa ROCKS Zeke, whips him to ropes but Zeke reverses. Ciampa dodges but Zeke FLAPJACKS him!
Ciampa gets up but swings into a scoop and FALL AWAY SLAM! Zeke runs in at the corner, but Ciampa elbows Zeke away! The ref checks on Ciampa but Miz DECKS Zeke with a cheap shot! Styles protests, but Ciampa runs to KNEE Zeke down to the floor! Ciampa goes out after Zeke to RAM him into barriers. Ciampa sits on the apron, and both he and Miz applaud. Ciampa pats himself on the back before he fetches Zeke into the ring. Ciampa drags Zeke up to throw hands but Zeke throws body shots. Ciampa TOSSES Zeke out hard, then tags Miz. Miz stomps Zeke, drags him up and SMACKS him off the announce desk!
Miz shouts that he has HUGE BALLS, and he struts around, while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Miz keeps Zeke from Styles with a knee, then the A-LIST COMBINATION! Cover, TWO! Miz keeps on Zeke by pulling hair, and then dragging him to the corner. Tag to Ciampa, they double whip and double elbow Zeke down! Miz flexes, Ciampa taunts Styles, then Ciampa STOMPS Zeke in the head! Ciampa clamps on a chinlock and he grinds Zeke down! It’s almost a Bully Choke and Zeke is turning red! Fans rally, Zeke fights up, and Zeke gets to his feet to arm-drag free! Zeke hurries but Ciampa rolls him away from Styles, TWO! Zeke JUMP KNEES Ciampa down! Fans fire up while both men are down!
Miz shouts to Ciampa, Styles rallies the fans for Zeke, hot tags to Miz and Styles! Miz puts on the brakes but Styles rallies on him! PHENOMENAL BLITZ! Styles then runs to SLIDING FOREARM! Fans fire up and Styles runs in at Miz to clothesline in the corner! Pump handle scoop to a GUTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Miz survives but Styles keeps his focus. Styles drags Miz up to fireman’s carry but Miz fights free. Miz waistlocks, Styles switches, O’Conner Roll, TWO! Styles DECKS Ciampa, but Miz kicks a leg out! BASEMENT DDT! Cover, TWO! Styles survives and Miz is surprised. Miz grits his teeth and fans rally up.
Miz waits on Styles to get up, he full nelsons, but Styles fights free to USHIGOROSHI! Cover, Ciampa breaks it! Zeke TOSSES Ciampa out! Zeke goes out to then SMACK Ciampa off the desk! Miz WRECKS Zeke! But Styles catches Miz for a roll, into the CALF CRUSHER!! Miz endures, Ciampa mugs Styles! The ref reprimands, Ciampa won’t let off, the ref rings the bell!
Winners: AJ Styles & Ezekiel, by disqualification
Ciampa lets off Styles, goes to Miz’s side, but Styles PLANCHAS! Miz gets away and Ciampa takes the hit! Miz runs away, the actions of a coward! Styles says he has Miz’s number, will Logan Paul not be the only one gunning for the A-Lister this Summer?
Matt Riddle scooters over to Bobby Lashley.
Riddle says hey to Bobby, and hi to “Travito,” the US Championship belt. Good to see Travito found a good home. But bro, Riddle can’t wait to get his hands on Seth Rollins to hit a sweet RKBRO. Oh wait, he just said his plan. Now it won’t be outta nowhere! Lashley says he can’t wait to get his hands on Theory. That punk’s been running his mouth since winning the MITB contract, but his mouth is writing checks his body can’t cash. Tonight, they’ll make both those guys pay. And don’t even sweat it, Lashley, you’ll totally retain at SummerSlam.
But since there’s time before the match, maybe they can watch Stranger Things together. Riddle gets really scared, but if Lashley’s there, maybe he won’t be. Lashley says sorry, but he already watched the new episode. But he’ll finish warming up and see Riddle out there. Riddle says cool. And remember the Alamo! Will the #BROMighty crush the Visionary and Golden Boy?
Alexa Bliss & Asuka VS Nikki A.S.H. & “Doudrop” Piper Niven!
The Five Foot Fury teams with the Empress of Tomorrow to take on the Almost SuperHero and her powerful tag partner. Will we see a new alliance forged here tonight? Or will Alexa and Asuka stay solo acts after this?
Raw returns as Asuka makes her entrance. Then Nikki makes her entrance, followed by Piper’s. The teams sort out, Asuka and Nikki start and they tie right up. Nikki throws Asuka down by her hair, then strikes her pose. Piper tells Nikki to stay serious, and Nikki rams shoulders. Asuka stays up and talks trash, so Nikki runs again. Asuka follows and then runs Nikki over! Asuka fires up and drags Nikki up to bump off buckles. Tag to Alexa, Alexa rolls Nikki up, ONE! Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Ghost Pin, TWO! Nikki RAMS Alexa with a shoulder then throws Alexa down by her hair. Nikki runs, Piper tags in, Alexa SLAPS Nikki and KNEES her down!
Alexa sets up, INSULT2- Piper CLOBBERS her! Piper grins as she drags Alexa up and CLUBS her down. Piper has Alexa in a corner, ROCKS her with a forearm, then brings her around to scoop. Nikki tags in and Piper SLAMS Alexa, for Nikki to BASEMENT BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Nikki stays on Alexa, whips her to a corner, then runs in to SPLASH! Nikki snapmares Alexa, and clamps on with a half nelson chinbar! Alexa endures as Nikki thrashes her around! Alexa endures, Nikki leans on the hold, but Alexa fights up. Nikki whips Alexa to a corner, runs in but only gets buckles! DOUBLE LARIATS collide and both women are down!
Fans fire up, both women crawl, hot tags to Piper and Asuka! Asuka dodges Piper to KICK and KICK! Piper blocks but Asuka ducks the haymaker! Asuka throws a BACKHAND, BACKHAND, SOBAT, and BACKHAND to a CODE BREAKER! Piper staggers, fans fire up with Asuka and she whips. Piper blocks and reverses but Asuka goes up to missile dropkick! Piper gets away, tags Nikki and she leaps, into a KNEE! Asuka was ready, and she KICKS away on Nikki! Asuka runs and HIP ATTACKS Piper down, to then SLIDING KICK Nikki! Cover, TWO! Nikki is still in this but Asuka snapmares and tags in Alexa.
Asuka and Alexa run, but Piper trips Asuka up! Alexa dropkicks Nikki while Asuka avoids the senton! Nikki rolls Alexa, TWO! Alexa kicks, reels Nikki in, DDT!! Cover, Alexa and Asuka win!
Winners: Alexa Bliss & Asuka, by pinfall
Alexa gives her former friend a handshake then celebrates with Asuka. But will either of these winners be waiting on the other side of SummerSlam for a Raw Women’s Championship match?
Angelo Dawkins w/ Montez Ford VS Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso!
The Street Profits want to set the record straight on their loss at Money in the Bank, but that means making it to Nashville! Will the #CurseofGreatness get Takeback Season Part 2 started? Or will Jimmy prove why he and Jey are the ones?
Raw returns and the Usos have the mics. Jey is fired up and he says, “The Bloodline is now in your city! And once again, we out here saying what we was goin’ do, again. Sounding like a broken record.” Jimmy says, “Blue brand?” Jey says, “Got that!” “Red brand?” “Got that, too!” Jimmy says The Bloodline’s running RawDown, and they can show up whenever they want to! Because they’re STILL the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions~! Jey says ever since MITB, the Profits over here whining, boohoo, crying, wah wah. Well, Jimmy would be crying too if he lost to the Usos!
But it doesn’t matter who the guest ref is, as long as he can count to three, the SummerSlam is where the Usos get another one! Because the Profits are the twos, and #WeThe- The Profits interrupt the catchphrase with their entrance! The Profits make it rain Solo cups, and they have mics of their own. “San Antonio~! Why look who it is! It’s the U~SOS~!” Why didn’t they tell the Profits they’re scared? The Usos hit them with everything they had and Ford’s shoulder was still up! But make no mistakes, Uce. They’ll get in your face so you know they’re serious. At SummerSlam, the Profits are taking those titles! And you know why. The Profits are up, and #WeWantTheSmoke!
But wait! R-Truth is making his way out here? He wants everyone to hold on! San Antonio, what’s up? But Profits, Usos, it doesn’t have to be like this. Just everyone calm down. They’re in San Antonio, Texas, the City of Brotherly Love. Uh, no… But Truth says we all know his many certifications: Divorce Attorney; Marriage Counselor; and he’s even able to fly a Top Gun airplane. But his best certification is that he is a bonafide, certified, Tag Team Counselor! Let’s all just get along and let Truth counsel. Wow, he’s got a lot of jobs. But Truth, you’ve been around the Usos’ family a long time. You need to get up out the ring so they can handle business.
Unless that is, Truth has a damn referee shirt. Well, hold on, okay, let’s get the elephant out of the room. Truth IS a certified WWE referee. Oh. Well, okay. He DOES have a referee shirt on! So then, Truth will audition for SummerSlam! Watch this count! ONE! TWO! THREE!! You’re outta there! Holding! Charge! Maybe someone gets thrown out and Truth will count. ONE…! TWO…! THREE…! He ain’t in yet! FOUR…! FIVE…! Do something! SIX…! SEVEN…! Jimmy tells Truth to take that damn shirt off! Fans boo but Jimmy tells Truth to take his clown ass to the back where it belongs! Fans boo more and Truth says he’s a clown ass, is he?
Y’all wanna fight the clown ass? San Antonio, you wanna see this clown ass fight an Uso? Then hold the mic. Dawkins has him, and Truth does his best to take the ref shirt off. Ford helps out, and Truth is ready to go. Truth will take BOTH Usos. Whoa…! But, with his partners. Then it’s even, 3v2! Wait, hold on. Here comes OMOS and MVP! MVP says, “Gentlemen, pardon the intrusion, but I was standing with the Nigerian Giant at the monitor, watching Truth make an absolute fool of himself, and I was struck with an idea. Why not allow the Nigerian Giant to be the special guest referee? That would be one huge spectacle, pun very much intended.”
Truth asks San Antonio if that giant can even count. Well neither can Truth! But Omos had an even better idea. Let’s be part of this match tonight! It’s a great opportunity to offer the services of the 7’3″, 400 pound giant to the Bloodline! Then we can even up the odds. What do the Usos say? The Usos are ready for that. What does Dawkins say? He’s down for a fight. And Truth? Well… Remember the Alamo! They go after the Usos and Omos! Omos DECKS Truth, drags the Profits off the Usos, then feed them to DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Omos BOOTS Truth back down, and fans boo as Omos looms over Truth. Is this Six Man still going to happen? Or has the damage been done?
Six Man Tag: R-Truth & The Street Profits VS The Usos & Omos w/ MVP!
Raw returns and yes, this match is happening! The Nigerian Giant starts against Dawkins and Dawkins fires off! Omos shoves Dawkins to ropes then runs him over! MVP says to give him more, but Omos tags in Jey and Jey stands Dawkins up. Dawkins ROCKS Jey, fires off fast hands, then tags Ford. The Profits double whip Jey, then dropkick Jey down! Dawkins gives Ford the boost, BACK SUPLEX SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Ford clamps onto Jey, wrenches, and tags in Truth! Fans fire up and Truth breaks it down to ROCK Jey! Truth fires hands, brings Jey around, but Jey powers him to the corner! Jimmy tags in to mug Truth!
Jimmy tags Omos and they mug Truth with a CHOP! Omos tags Jimmy back in, he drags Truth from the Profits and stomps Truth’s hand. MVP talks trash, Jimmy shows off his dance moves then DECKS Truth! Cover, ONE! Jimmy is annoyed but he taunts Truth. Jimmy drags Truth up, waistlocks and puts him in the corner. Truth counter punches Jimmy! And he hits Jey! And Omos! Jimmy kicks low to then HEADBUTT Truth down! Truth flounders but Jimmy stays between Truth and the Profits. Jimmy stomps Truth to the corner, tags Jey, then Jey tags Omos. The Usos double back suplex, but Truth slips off! The Profits get in to DOUBLE DROPKICK the Usos!
Omos isn’t sure what to do and Truth dropkicks him! Omos stays up, so the Profits help out, TRIPLE DROPKICK! Omos drops off the apron but lands on his feet! The Profits aim to DOUBLE PLANCHA the Usos! Truth fires up, and he aims at Omos! PLANCHA, but Omos catches him! Omos pops Truth up to SNAKE EYES off the apron! And then CLOBBER him! Omos roars as the only man standing and MVP says that’s what happens! “Who’s the giant?” “I’M the giant!” Omos roars again as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Jey and Omos mug Truth. Omos looms over Truth, stands on Truth’s leg, and Truth shouts in pain! Omos drags Truth up and he CLUBS Truth right down! Then Omos sucker punches Dawkins! MVP taunts Dawkins for taking his eye off the ball, and Omos drags Truth back up. Omos whips Truth hard into the Uso corner! Truth bounces off buckles, Omos looms over him and roars again. MVP says that right there is greatness! Omos CHOKES Truth on the ropes, then lets off. Omos tags Jey, and Jimmy tells the fans, “No, YOU suck!” Omos sets Truth up for Jey to MULE KICK!
Jimmy talks trash on Truth and Jey drags Truth up. Jey swings but Truth does the splits to dodge! Then he CALF KICKS Jey down! Fans fire up, Truth and Jey crawl, hot tags to Jimmy and Ford! Ford dodges Jimmy to GAMANGIRI! Then he goes up to CROSSBODY! Ford gets up to SMACK Omos, then he whips Jimmy. Jimmy reverses, follows, but Ford stops to LARIAT him down! Ford swings, but Jimmy ducks to back suplex. Ford lands on his feet to kick, KICK and ENZIGURI! Then BLOCKBUSTER! Ford kips up and roars to STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Jimmy bails out but Ford builds speed.
Ford stops when Omos stands in his way, but Dawkins trips Omos up! Ford GAMANGIRIS Omos, but Omos grabs Dawkins! Ford saves Dawkins from Omos and they POST Omos together! But Jimmy drags Ford up the apron! Ford GAMANGIRIS Jimmy, then hurries to tag Dawkins! Ford Electric Chair Lifts Jimmy and Dawkins climbs, DOOMSDAY DEVICE!! Cover, Jey breaks it in time! Ford gets in but Jey gets him for a POP-UP NECKBREAKER! Truth gets in, he gets Jey for a SPIN-OUT BOMB! Truth puts up the hand and fans fire up for “You Can’t See Me!” But Omos drags Truth out! And RAMS Truth into steel steps!
Dawkins has Jimmy, blocks a kick but not the DRAGON WHIP! Jimmy looks around but Dawkins CYCLONE SPLASHES and ENZIGURIS! Omos tags in before the ANOINTING! MOUNTAINTOP SLAM!! Cover, Omos and Usos win!
Winners: Omos & The Usos, by pinfall
MVP says there it is! That power is why the Nigerian Giant should be feared! But will he still be passed over for the role of referee at SummerSlam?
Backstage interview with Seth Rollins.
The Visionary is laughing as he walks in and Kevin Patrick says after Rollins beat Ezekiel, he wanted more, until Matt Riddle appeared outta nowhere with an RKO. How does Rollins feel about that? “I feel great! HAHAHA! Because it’s Monday night, and it’s the main event, and that means it’s MY time, baby.” But Rollins is hearing a lot of conversation about the identity of Ezekiel. But guess what, Mike, Rollins doesn’t care! Rollins doesn’t care if it’s Ezekiel, Elias, Elmo, Elrod or El Gigante! If you get in Rollins’ way, he will put you down. But there is one person whose identity Rollins is very curious about.
“Who in the HELL does Riddle think he is?! No, really? Who? Who is Riddle? Is he some ultra-talented savant that’s thinking on a higher plane than everybody else? Or, is he just some idiot bro that Randy Orton felt sorry for? HAHAHAHA~! I’ll tell you who he isn’t: He isn’t a person who can ride the coattails of Randy~ anymore. He isn’t a person who can hide behind his Big Bro, Randy, anymore And he isn’t someone who can use the good name of Seth Freakin’ Rollins to chase the clout. You know what they say about playing with fire? Sooner or later, you’re gonna get burned. HAHAHA! Ask Cody Rhodes!”
Rollins keeps laughing but then Theory walks in. Theory apologizes for the interruption, but was just wondering if Rollins had any advice on being Mr. MITB. Rollins had the greatest cash-in of all time, how’d he do it? Rollins laughs, and says Theory has come to the right man. Walk with him, talk with him! Will the Architect share his plans with the Youngest Mr. MITB in history? And will these two be able to overcome the #BROMighty duo they’ll be up against?
A new mysterious video plays.
There is an hourglass and a silhouette. An RKO shirt, a John Cena hat, and now writing on the wall. Someone is making their way back, but when and where will we see who this is?
Logan Paul speaks.
“Miz, you’re delusional! I don’t want anything to do with you! I don’t want to be your partner. You and I are done! I want you one-on-one at SummerSlam. And just to make sure you’re understanding all of this perfectly, I’ll be coming to Monday Night Raw next week so you can really read my lips.” And when they see each other face-to-face, it’ll be AWESOME!
Bobby Lashley & Matt Riddle VS Seth Rollins & (Austin) Theory!
Speaking of SummerSlam, The Rocky Mountain Machine is going to defend his US Championship gold against Vince McMahon’s Golden Boy, and the Stallion just wants to kick the Visionary’s ass! Will they get to whet their appetites here tonight? Or will Rollins & Theory #BurnItDown together?
Raw returns and Rollins makes his entrance, followed by Theory’s. The teams sort out and Riddle starts against Theory. They tie up, Theory kicks low and throws haymakers. Theory stomps Riddle into a corner, rains down fists, but lets off as the ref counts. Theory snarls and brings Riddle up to ROCK him with another punch. Theory tags Rollins, they mug Riddle, and Rollins CLUBS Riddle to then DECK him! Rollins drops a knee, drags Riddle up, then tags Theory in. They mug Riddle again, body shot after body shot, then Theory flexes on Lashley. The ref has Theory stay back, and Theory whips Riddle corner to corner
Riddle goes up and over, KICKS Theory again and again in the corner, then fires up with the fans. Riddle gut wrenches Theory to suplex him! Riddle stares Rollins down, runs in at Theory and forearm smashes! Tag to Lashley and he runs side to side to RAM into Theory! Fans fire up and Lashley runs in at Theory again, but Theory BOOTS him! Theory runs, Rollins tag sin, but Lashley catches both of them! COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO! Cover, TWO! Tag to Riddle and he gets a boost for the ASSISTED FLOATING BRO! Cover, ONE! Rollins crawls but Riddle drags him back and tags in Lashley. They mug Rollins, then Lashley bumps Rollins off buckles.
Lashley RAMS into Rollins again and again, then says he’s taking Rollins up. STALLING Suplex! Rollins fights free, ducks and dumps Lashley out of the ring, then builds speed to DIVW! Lashley catches Rollins to a fireman’s carry! Riddle sees Theory coming and PENALTY KICKS him! Lashley then POSTS Rollins! Fans fire up with Lashley and Riddle, but Dolph Ziggler is heading out here? In a suit, too! What is the Show Off doing showing up this late into the show? Guess we’ll see, after the break.
Raw returns once again and Riddle fights his way out of the enemy corner! Riddle ROCKS Rollins, elbows Theory, then fires off on Theory more! Theory falls, Rollins runs in but into an elbow! Riddle goes up but Theory trips him! Ziggler is watching up close as Rollins goes up and gets Riddle for an INVERTED SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Riddle survives but Rollins covers again, TWO! Rollins argues with the ref but the count is fair! Rollins stomps Riddle’s hand to keep him from reaching to Lashley, then he stomps one of Riddle’s feet. Rollins BOOTS Riddle down, then looms over him. Rollins slaps Riddle around, and taunts him about Randy being gone.
Riddle CHOPS Rollins! And CHOPS, and ROCKS and fires off palm strikes! Riddle runs, but into a SLEEPER HOLD! Rollins drags Riddle down, facelocks, but Riddle endures. Fans rally, Riddle fights up, and he powers his way towards his corner! Rollins wrenches and suplexes to GOURD BUSTER! Rollins has the facelock again and it’s almost a grovit! Ziggler seems intrigued as Riddle fights up. Riddle reaches out, powers his way forward again, but Rollins suplexes again! Riddle lands on his feet this time! And he spins Rollins to a PELE! Theory tags in and he slingshot somersaults, but into a BODY SCISSORS! SLEEPER HOLD!!
Theory flails and gets to his feet, but Riddle has the BROMISSION! Theory BACKPACK SENTONS! Both men are down and fans fire up! They both crawl, Theory and Riddle hot tag Rollins and Lashley! Lashley POUNCES Rollins, CLOBBERS him, then scoops and SLAMS him! Lashley DECKS Theory for good measure before he RAMS into Rollins! NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up and Lashley reels Rollins in, gut wrench to the- NO, Rollins slips out and ENZIGURIS! Rollins runs in to forearm smash at the corner, but Lashley reverses the whip! Rollins goes up, but gets caught! POWERSLAM! Cover, Theory breaks it!
Lashley gets Theory’s leg! Theory ROCKS Lashley, runs, but into a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Rollins aims, ROLLING ELBOW! Then a turn and DREAM SMASHER ELBOW! Lashley is down and Rollins climbs up! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Rollins is beside himself and Ziggler seems really intrigued now. Fans fire up as Lashley crawls, but Rollins anchors a foot! Hot tags to Theory and Riddle! Riddle rallies on Theory, dodges and POWERSLAMS! Riddle puts Theory in ropes, for a DRAPING DDT! Fans are thunderous as Riddle hears the voices, bro! Theory stands, but Rollins helps him bail out!
Fans boo as Theory and Rollins taunt Riddle, but Lashley SPEARS Rollins through the barriers!! Theory is shocked, and Riddle drags him up! Theory HOTSHOTS Riddle, gets Riddle up, but Riddle slips off! RK- NO, Theory shoves, rolls up, feet on the ropes and Ziggler shoves them off?!? Ziggler is here to keep things fair! And RKO OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, Riddle & Lashley win!!
Winners: Bobby Lashley & Matt Riddle, by pinfall
Seems Ziggler was a bro in disguise! Riddle and Lashley win thanks to Ziggler stopping the cheat from Theory! And then Ziggler SUPERKICKS Theory down!! He’s here to show the world something, but just what is his beef with the Golden Boy?
My Thoughts:
This was a pretty good episode of Raw, but much of it just felt slapped together. Advertising one match but then changing it, that always feels so strange to me. I remember them saying we’d get Theory VS Riddle and Lashley VS anyone in a US Championship Open Challenge, but that got changed into the main event we got instead. Granted, that was a very good tag match, and what a great surprise for Ziggler to not only show up, but to apparently be Face against Theory. Ziggler has had stories in the past where he was bitter against those getting opportunities, but I don’t know if this will be that. It’d make sense since Theory has been getting help from Vince, but I don’t know why this is happening now when we’re still on the road to SummerSlam, Theory VS Lashley and possible against the Universal Champion.
Lesnar’s opening segment was good, even if they didn’t really give us enough of Roman’s promo from SmackDown. Heyman of course had a good promo, and even Theory had a good one showing us the Elimination Chamber stuff. Lesnar destroying Alpha Academy was wild, but that’s probably the extent of it. I don’t see Gable and Otis wanting to do that again, kayfabe or otherwise.
Dawkins VS Jimmy Uso turning into the Six Man Tag was another interesting move, but I did like Truth’s bit in the promo, and if anyone is going to kiss up to The Bloodline on Raw, it is MVP and Omos. The Six Man was also a really good match, though, and Omos taking out Dawkins does preserve the math between Profits and Usos, but I was expecting Truth to take that loss. I do suppose Omos and Truth can have a short feud but it won’t change that Sami Zayn could be and should be the special guest referee. It is a refreshing thing to see Truth in a non 24/7 Championship related thing, but this probably won’t last, either.
As fun as making fun of The Miz’s nuts continues to be, I honestly don’t know why Styles isn’t feuding with Judgement Day like the Mysterios are. Shouldn’t Styles be more upset that Finn ditched him? Granted, Styles and Zeke had a great match against Miz and Ciampa, and it was a good win for Styles and Zeke, and a feud of any kind allows Miz to show up, communicate with Logan Paul through promos, and then lose because he stuck his foot in his mouth. But why couldn’t this feud have just been Zeke and Miz? Or more with Mustafa Ali and Miz?
As for Judgement Day, I suppose still pursuing Dom is fine, and Finn got a good win over Rey, but I can’t be sure which way this goes. I almost thought Dom was going to turn here, maybe that happens at SummerSlam. Hell, if Judgement Day gets a match at SummerSlam, is that when Edge returns? Because yeah, those vignettes are pointing to Edge even more obviously than before. Again, Styles should’ve been feuding with Judgement Day, even if it’d be weird for him and Edge to suddenly be on the same side of the feud. But in the feud we’re getting, if Dom joins up just as Edge is coming back, is Dom going to take the losses for the faction so Edge can build back up?
Of course Becky comes out to watch Bianca VS Mella, and she had a good promo to let us know if it wasn’t obvious that she’s getting that SummerSlam match. Bianca VS Mella for the title seemed like a throwaway thing, but given Becky made Bianca lose via count-out, there’s more heat for their match, but also I feel like they’re trying to shoehorn Mella in so she can take the loss to whoever. That doesn’t fell all that good to me, because there’s nothing saying Becky can’t continue to fight her way back, or that Bianca can’t fight her way back either. At the same time, Alexa and Asuka got a win in a good match with Piper & Nikki, so there’s half a chance either one of them is going to challenge next. I’m thinking more Alexa since she got back and we need to see more of this newest persona.
My Score: 8.2/10
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The Maniac takes on the Powerhouse!
In the wake of AEW Dynasty, in perhaps Will Hobbs’ biggest match, he takes on IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Jon Moxley! Will the Don Callis Family have even more gold?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW World Championship Eliminator: Swerve Strickland VS Kyle Fletcher; Swerve wins and denies Fletcher a title match.
- Mina Shirakawa w/ Mariah May VS Anna Jay; Mina wins.
- Casino Gauntlet: Will Ospreay wins and will challenge for the AEW International Championship at Double or Nothing.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs; Moxley wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Elite arrives at Daily’s Place.
They roll up together in the same SUV, showing off all their gold, from Kazuchika Okada still being the AEW Continental Champion to The Young Bucks being the NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions. Matthew congratulates The Rainmaker, and says he is so proud. Nicholas says he is proud of being the first-ever THREE-TIME AEW World Tag Team Champions. Wait, who is this pulling up next? It’s JACK PERRY! He just smiles at the cameraman, and Matt says alright, gentlemen, it’s a big night! They head in, but then security flags Jack down, saying he can’t be here.
Matt has security stop there, Jack is with The Elite. Hands off the merchandise. And cameraman, stick with The Elite, they’ve got some business to attend to. The Scapegoat walks with The Elite, just what will they do on this Homecoming night?
Orange Cassidy is here!
Daily’s Place fires up as Freshly Squeezed makes his way out, or rather is TOSSED out by Trent Beretta! Trent’s modified the old T-Shirt so it now reads, “Trent & Orange w/ Chuck Taylor win the big one.” Trent DECKS Cassidy down the ramp while fans boo the further betrayal! Trent DECKS Cassidy again, and Cassidy flops into the ring! Trent rains down fists, soaks up the heat, and then he gets a mic. “Chuck. Chuck, it’s time. Please get out here.” Trent waits, but tells the fans they have no idea what they’re talking about so please. Chuck walks out on stage and Trent apologizes? He is sorry…Â that he didn’t do this a long time ago!
Trent is sorry that Best Friends spent five YEARS hugging a narcissistic p*ick! Cassidy was brought in here to be their sidekick, yet somehow he made Best Friends into his lackies! Best Friends fought for Cassidy, protected him, did EVERYTHING for him, and yet Cassidy gave them NOTHING! Cassidy does NOT care about Chuck! Cassidy is NOT his friend! Trent looms over Cassidy while the fans rally for “FRESHLY SQUEEZED! FRESHLY SQUEEZED!” Trent tells Chuck that Trent cares about him. Trent IS Chuck’s friend. So please… Do the right thing and give the people what they want. Trent tosses the mic to Chuck so he can respond.
Trent holds his arms open, and then Chuck holds his arms open, to then stop and say he always thought Trent was a POS! Chuck DECKS Trent!! Trent tumbles away, gets back up, but avoids Chuck’s haymaker! The Kentucky Gentleman tells Trent he knows that they won’t clear Chuck for a fight in this ring. But Chuck doesn’t wanna fight in this ring, he wants to fight in the damn parking lot!! The fans go nuts hearing that! Trent shakes his head, but will he have no choice but to fight his former Best Friend?
Jon Moxley speaks.
“I am confident tonight that I will defend successfully my IWGP Championship, but I don’t want you to mistake that for arrogance, or ignorance, or an underestimation of my opponent, ‘Powerhouse’ Hobbs. I know exactly who ‘Powerhouse’ Hobbs is, what he’s capable of. A truck of a man who hits like one, too. Born and bred with a killer instinct, an instinct I can see and smell from a mile away. I’m acutely aware of what’s at stake tonight. I know it’ll only take one mistake for my entire world to come crashing down around me. And I know that this Callis Family put a hit out on my friend, so I know just how far they’re willing to go to get an edge to win.
“But nobody knows better than me what it takes to get to the top. More importantly, what it takes to stay at the top. So I know, honestly, for me, tonight’s gonna suck. It’s gonna be a walk through Hell. A march through mud and fire, slings and arrows, a march through Hell. But there’s no place I’d rather be, there’s no better way to feel alive. I don’t play golf, man. This is pro-wrestling, this is the king of sports, the greatest thing int he world. And tonight, I’m gonna remind the world just who I am, in case they’ve forgotten. When all the oxygen is pulled out of Powerhouse’s lungs and his carcass hits the canvas, they’re gonna feel it, from Jacksonville to Tokyo!”
The Maniac heads out, but will the Book of Hobbs’ next chapter be written in gold?
AEW World Championship Eliminator: Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis!
Whose Dynasty? SWERVE’S DYNASTY! Because The Realest did dethrone the One True King of Wrestling Television to become the NEW AEW World Champion! Prince Nana leads the way with his dance as Swerve looks to be a fighting champion! Will Swerve snipe the Aussie Arrow? Or will the Don Callis Family already have a win on a world champion to start the night?
The bell rings and the fans rally for Swerve as he stares Kyle down. They circle, get face to face, talk some trash, and then Swerve goes for a leg! Kyle facelocks to fight the takedown, then slips around to a waistlock. Swerve switches and hammerlocks, but Kyle reaches back to headlock. Swerve cranks the hammerlock, but Kyle reaches for legs. Kyle manages to switch, snapmare and then ghost pin, TWO! Kyle headlocks but Swerve slips right out to hammerlock again. Swerve grinds Kyle down but Kyle fights to the ROPEBREAK. Swerve lets off and waits on Kyle. Kyle stands, the two reset, and they tie up again.
Swerve headlocks, Kyle powers up and puts Swerve on ropes. The ref counts, Kyle lets off but then takes a swing! Swerve ducks the chop, snapmares Kyle down and slips around to roll Kyle to a cradle, TWO! Kyle hurries after a leg, but Swerve spins around, victory roll and step over, SHORT ARM SCISSOR! Kyle scrambles around to stack, TWO! Swerve gets up, Kyle goes for a leg, but Swerve steps over. Kyle dodges the dropkick, but then Swerve avoids the Penalty Kick! Both men block the other’s kick, and the fans fire up as they both let off. The two reset, the fans rally for “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!”
Swerve and Kyle circle, Kyle kicks but Swerve blocks, only for Kyle to ROCK Swerve with a forearm. Kyle whips, Swerve goes up and over then JUMP SOBATS! The fans fire up as Kyle sputters, and then Swerve UPPERCUTS, snapmares, and goes up to FALLING UPPERCUT! Swerve hits the Griddy and the fans fire up! Swerve says “DU~VAL~!” and the fans echo it. Swerve goes for Kyle but Kyle gets to ropes. Swerve waits on Kyle, goes for an arm, wrenches, but Kyle whips Swerve out! Kyle runs to CALF KICK Swerve to the floor! The fans boo but Kyle snarls and Swerve checks his arm. Kyle goes out after Swerve, brings him around, but tells Nana to back off.
Swerve BACK DROPS Kyle away! Kyle writhes, Swerve goes to the apron and he tells fans to pay attention, get off their phones. PENALTY KICK and Kyle goes down! The fans cheer while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Swerve struts around before he fetches Kyle, and whips him into railing! Swerve again tells fans to watch the show, not their phones. He fist bumps the front row, gets Kyle back up, and pushes him into the ring. Swerve has Kyle on the apron to CLUB him. Swerve then stalks Kyle to a corner, ROCKS him, then has him on ropes. Swerve UPPERCUTS Kyle, whips him to ropes, but Kyle reverses to scoop and SLAM! Swerve writhes while Kyle mockingly shouts, “Whose house?!” Kyle even gets on a corner to soak up the heat and tell Jacksonville up theirs! Kyle goes back to Swerve, Swerve throws body shots, but then Kyle swings. Swerve blocks to fire more body shots!
Swerve turns Kyle for a NECKBREAKER! Swerve drags Kyle around, covers, TWO! Kyle is still in this but Swerve clamps onto him with an armlock and chinbar. Swerve grinds his elbow into Kyle’s face, then grabs the other arm. Swerve wrangles Kyle into a CAMEL CLUTCH, but then makes it a SLEEPER STRETCH! Kyle still endures, fights free, and Dynamite returns to single picture as he stands. Kyle fires body shots, but Swerve grabs the arm. Kyle KICKS and KICKS but Swerve blocks, slips around, LEG CAPTURE BACKBREAKER! Swerve again grinds on the arms, pulls on back, but Kyle slips through to arm-drag free!
Swerve has the wristlock but Kyle fires forearm after forearm! Swerve swings, Kyle swats it to SLAP Swerve! Kyle whips, Swerve flips up and around but Kyle SUPERKICKS him! Then scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Both men are down and the fans fire up! A camera is backstage, and we see The Elite plus Jack Perry walking right up to Tony Khan’s office. Matthew doesn’t even knock as he leads the way right in. In the ring, Swerve and Kyle rise while the fans rally up. Swerve goes to ropes, Kyle runs in, but is put on the apron! Kyle waistlocks to drag Swerve out, and half nelsons! Swerve fights that, slips around, APRON NECKBREAKER!
The fans rally for Swerve while he shakes out his arm, then he encourages them to get louder. Swerve goes up the corner, Kyle slowly sits up, APRON KILL STOMPS!! Swerve clutches a leg, that was a risky move that may have been double-edged! Swerve walks off the pain and fans rally up. Swerve pushes Kyle into the ring, hurries to another corner, and then runs up, HOUSE- NO, Kyle catches the foot! ANKLE LOCK!! Kyle THRASHES the foot but Swerve endures! The fans rally for Swerve as he fights around, reaches out, but Kyle drags him away from ropes! GRAPEVINE!! Swerve is caught, and Kyle is even stomping Swerve’s back!
Swerve endures, the fans are thunderous, and Swerve crawls to the ROPEBREAK! Kyle lets go but keeps his eyes on Swerve. Kyle brings Swerve around to KICK him in the chest! And KICK him again! And KIJCK again, but Swerve blocks! Swerve ROCKS Kyle, Kyle ROLLING ELBOWS! Swerve MULE KICKS, HAYMAKERS, and whips to HIP TOSS! Roll through to the deadlift, but the bad foot holds Swerve back! Kyle suplexes, Swerve slips around and half nelsons but Kyle breaks that. Swerve still O’Conner Rolls so that he can BOOT from below! Kyle wobbles, into the SOMERSAULT FLATLINER! Swerve rolls through again, for the BRAINBUSTER!
The fans fire up as Swerve crawls back to cover, TWO!! Kyle survives and Swerve is frustrated. Swerve snarls, drags Kyle up for a gut wrench, but Kyle flails and kicks his way to turn it around! But then Swerve flails and kicks to turn it back around! So Kyle drops, victory roll and deadlift, into the JUMPING TOMBSTONE!! Cover, TWO!! Swerve survives and now Kyle is frustrated! Kyle pounds the mat, Callis tells him number four, and Kyle nods. Kyle goes outside, looks under the ring, but then shakes his head. Kyle doesn’t wanna do number four, he awnts to do it his way! GAMANGIRI! He puts Swerve up top and climbs!
Kyle has Swerve up on the very top, lifts, but Swerve fights! Swerve throws body shots, haymakers, and then he ROCKS Kyle! Kyle ends up in the Tree of Woe, and Swerve hits WOE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Swerve just reloads! HOUSE CALL!! Cover, Swerve wins!!
Winner: Swerve Strickland, by pinfall (denies Kyle Fletcher a title opportunity)
The Realest crosses Kyle off the list, and Callis is disappointed Kyle didn’t play things how he wanted. Are tensions rising in the Don Callis Family? Who will be next to step to Swerve’s Dynasty?
BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!
As AEW returns to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, so will The Cleaner! Kenny Omega finally makes his way back to Dynamite, what will he have to say about The Bucks’ new Elite?
Backstage interview with Thunder Rosa.
Renee Paquette is with La Mera Mera and notes her being so close to winning the AEW Women’s World Championship, only to fall short. What does Rosa feel went wrong out there? Rosa says she can either stand here and complain about what happened, or she can move on. Honestly, Rosa could bring up who Deonna Purrazzo again got involved in her business, or how “Antonia Tormenta” kicked Rosa in the ovarios. But she won’t. She’s just proud of herself for- Oh, wait, Deonna walks in. The Virtuosa doesn’t get it. Rosa says she doesn’t wanna talk about Deonna, yet all she does is say her name!
Deonna dares Rosa to say things to her face, and Rosa tells Deonna en Espanol that she’s already told her before. The two start shoving, security rushes in, will we see these two have it out before one of them goes back for Toni Storm?
Mina Shirakawa w/ Mariah May VS Anna Jay!
Speaking of Toni Storm, her protege’s old mentor has been coming around AEW & ROH more and more, mostly because of Mariah May. Will Stardom’s Fighting H Cup Idol prove she’s elite? Or will Anna remind us she’s still the Star of the Show?
The bell rings and the two circle. They approach, Anna dodges and she takes a bow. The fans cheer, but Mina says okay, c’mon now. Then Mina dodges and shimmies! Anna mockingly applauds before she BOOTS Mina down! Anna brings Mina up to fire off forearms, then shows off her assets. Anna runs, but Mina dropkicks the legs out! Mina then runs to SHOTGUN Anna down! Mina grabs a leg to SMASH the knee! Mina steps over to SPLASH onto the leg, then struts around. The fans fire up as Mina brings Anna up, ties up the legs, and then DOUBLE KNEE SMASHES! Mina gets the legs again, steps through, but Anna kicks her away.
Anna runs in but Mina dodges in the corner. Mina ducks a forearm, ROCKS Anna with a forearm, then goes up to REBOUND ENZIGIRI! Cover, TWO! Mina stays on Anna while the fans rally. Mina dragon sleepers, but Anna fight the suplex! Anna swings, Mina dodges and tilt-o-whirls, to then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Mina drags Anna by her leg, drops an elbow on the knee, and then another! And then another! And another! Mina shakes it up again and the fans cheer as she drops one more elbow! Mina steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Anna endures, crawls, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Mina lets go and Anna goes to the apron.
Mina lines up a shot, runs in, but Anna ducks to CLAW the eyes! Anna brings Mina into the ropes, give her a kiss right in front of Mariah, and HOTSHOT NECKBREAKERS! Mariah is upset but has to stay back, and Anna goes in to cover, TWO! Mina hangs in there while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Anna CHOKES Mina, lets off as the ref counts, and then she drags Mina up. Mariah says boo Anna, but Anna puts Mina in a corner. Anna digs her boot in, lets off as the ref counts, and Mina sputters as Anna brings her around. Anna ROCKS Mina, brings her around and bumps her off buckles. The fans rally, Anna CHOPS Mina, then she struts. But Mina runs up to ROCK Anna! Anna CLUBS Mina, then pushes her around. Anna stands on Mina but that’s a CHOKE! The ref counts, Anna steps away, and she blows kisses at everyone. Anna brings Mina up, to snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Anna is frustrated but she brings Mina back to ropes.
Anna CHOKES Mina more, taunting Mariah to reach out, then Anna steps off as the ref counts. Mina coughs, Anna brings her up, but Mina fires body shots! Anna CLUBS Mina and has her in a corner. Anna drags Mina up, CHOKES her more, but the ref counts. Anna lets off, Mina coughs and sputters, but Anna soaks up the heat. Anna drags Mina up, cravats and snapmares, then clamps on a FULL NELSON! Mina endures, fights around, and Mariah cheers Mina on as she fights up. Mina throws elbows to fight the hold, but Anna holds tight! Dynamite returns to single picture as Mina breaks free and ROCKS Anna!
Anna comes back to ROCK Mina, but Mina ROCKS Anna again! The fans rally as the forearms go back and forth! Anna gest the edge, runs, but into a ROLLING ELBOW! Anna stands, into Mina’s URAKEN! Anna flounders to a corner, Mina roars and runs in, but Anna puts her on the apron! Mina knuckle locks, ROCKS and climbs up to FALLING KNEE DROP onto Anna! Cover, TWO!! Anna survives but Mina keeps her focus. Mina ROCKS Anna again, brings her in, but Anna wrenches out of the suplex to HOOK KICK! Then Gory Especial, GORY BOMB! Shoutout to Tay and Anna covers, TWO!!
Anna is beside herself but Mariah is also worried. Anna brings Mina up but Mina fights the STO! Mina gets free, blocks a kick, and DRAGON SCREWS! Then she steps through on the legs, FIGURE FOUR! The fans “WOO~” but Anna endures and fights to the ROPEBREAK! Mina lets go fast to go up a corner. MISSILE DROPKICK! Anna staggers back up, into the GLAMOROUS SWORD! Cover, TWO!! Anna survives Mina’s enzigiri but Mina drags her into the dragon sleeper! GLAM- NO, Anna slips free to have the QUEENSLAYER!! Mina flails, reaches out, but Anna is too busy staring down Mariah! Mina wrenches out to wrangle Anna!
Mina hooks legs, GLAMOROUS COLLECTION MINA! MINA WINS!!
Winner: Mina Shirakawa, by pinfall
Anna got cocky and got caught! Mariah brings in the champagne and glasses, and they toast the victory! But then Anna CLOBBERS Mariah and DECKS Mina! The fans are torn as Anna puts the QUEENSLAYER on Mariah!! Mariah flails, but here comes Toni Storm! The champ runs Anna off to protect her protege! “How DARE~ you!” Storm checks on Mariah, but wait! SERENA DEEB is here! The Professor of Professional Wrestling is looking rather glamorous herself as she struts out, tosses Storm’s shoes aside, and looks at the AEW Women’s World Championship! Deeb sits down beside it on the ramp and has the camera come in close.
Deeb says she could hold the title up, but she won’t. Because instead, she’s going to make the AEW Women’s Division a promise: the next time she holds the belt, it will truly belong to her as the NEW AEW Women’s World Champion. Deeb is undefeated, will she remain that way all the way through dethroning Timeless Toni Storm?
Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway are in the ring.
Dynamite returns as the Galaxy’s Greatest and #BigStoke are here, balloons at all the corners of the ring, and the fans cheering them on. Stokely says, “In 1977, Bill Withers created one of the greatest songs of all time, Lovely Day. And that’s exactly how I felt when one of my best friends became TBS Champion at Dynasty!” The fans cheer that! Stokely wants to know, is Jacksonville ready to partaaay~?! They sure sound like it! Stokely says Caprice Coleman is on commentary, Krissy Stat is right here, and she says this one’s for Willow.
“She is the Babe with the Power, and we are here to give her her flowers She reminds us that nothing matters and to smile anyway, because every time we see her, she brightens our day. I’m standing her in silver because she is our gold. And now, she has the TBS Championship to hold.” Stoke says with all due disrespect, that was two packs of ass! So let’s just bring out the NEW Face of TBS, “HOO! HOO!” WILLOW~ NIGHTINGALE! Coleman sings along with the theme song just like in ROH, and the Babe with the Championship makes her entrance. Willow gets the mic, Stokely says when this whole thing to started, he didn’t like her. Well she didn’t like him, either.
Stokely says Willow was like a fungus that they couldn’t cut off. But look at them now! Willow earned that title, and they are proud of her! Willow thanks Stokely and Kris, and is proud of herself, too. Because tonight in JACKSONVILLE~, the very place where she hit the big time. She’ll take us back to Spring of 2020. Willow was right here, in the front row, trying to get her big break. Then in 2022, she was in the ring, Tony Schiavone stepped in to join her, and on that big tron, we saw the graphic: Willow is All Elite! But tonight, Willow isn’t trying to catch a break, she is not a rookie. She is THE FACE OF TBS!! WHAT WHAT!
But wait, here comes The CEO. Mercedes Mone again steps on Willow’s moment, just like she did at Dynasty. But it’s already obvious why as she struts her way to the ring. Mone gets her own mic while the fans chant “C E O! C E O!” Mone tells “Jacksonviiiiille~” to say hello to the C E O. Willow tells Mone this has to be like the fourth time she’s done this. And this is Willow’s time! So it just feels like if Mone has something to say, then go ahead and say it. Mone says she just wanted to congratulate Willow! And to enjoy the celebration now, because in just 23 days, at Double or Nothing, you will be looking at the NEW Face of TBS, Mercedes Mone.
The fans are torn, but Mone says she just wanted to ask if Willow was the b*tch who attacked her in the dark two weeks ago! What? Why would she? Kris steps up to tell Mone that Willow got attacked just last week, so how do we know Mone didn’t do that? Well how do we know it wasn’t Kris?! They argue, Stokely speaks up and says while he hates getting up in women’s business, we all know it was Julia Hart. Willow says even before this whodunnit, it feels like there’s been a personal vendetta against her. Does Mone really think Willow meant to injure Sasha during the NJPW Women’s Tournament? Stokely says of course Mone thinks that, but then Kris shuts him up.
Mone asks Willow if she really just asked if Mone blames Willow for almost ending her career. Is Willow really asking if Mone blames Willow for all the pain and suffering Mone went through? Is Willow really asking if Mone was blaming Willow for taking away the one thing Mone loves most for a whole year? Willow doesn’t want the truth, she just wants to feel better about what she did to Mone. Willow says she genuinely feels so awful what happened. But there were a lot of questions and doubts for her, too. She went to hotel room, she looked at the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, and she should’ve been smiling.
But the whole time, she wondered to herself, “Could I have beaten Mercedes Mone at 100%?” And then the next day, Willow saw everyone saying that online. She heard the locker room saying it! And so that NJPW Strong Women’s title reign has quite the asterisk next to it. But THIS title reign? This? There is NOT asterisk next to this! The fans fire up for that! So at Double or Nothing, Mone, Willow wants you at 100%! Because Willow wants to show Mone that she CAN beat her, and why Willow IS TBS Champion. The fans fire up for that! Mone says to enjoy it while she can, because they both know deep down, Willow CAN’T beat Mone.
The fans are torn as the two stare down, and then Mone says bye. Kris grabs at Mone, Mone turns around and mistakenly SLAPS Willow!! Kris has to stop Willow from retaliating, and then refs get out there to stop it! Kris’s mistake only just turned up the heat on this one! Will there be no holding back from the CEO or the Babe with the Power when it’s Double or Nothing?
Alex Marvez waits outside Tony Khan’s office.
Jack Perry is the first to exit and Marvez says they’ve been in there a long time. Is Jack reinstated in AEW? Jack doesn’t answer and moves on, so Marvez asks “Okada-san” if that’s the case. The Rainmaker just pats Marvez on the shoulder and follows Jack. Nicholas, is Jack All Elite again? Matthew, please, Marvez needs the scoop! Is Jack Perry once again in AEW? Matt wishes he had a better scoop for Marvez, but things are still uncertain. One thing Matt will tell Marvez is… Tony Khan literally just agreed to talk with Jack in the ring, live here tonight. That’s still a pretty big scoop! Will TK bring the Scapegoat back into the fold?
Casino Gauntlet!
AEW shuffles the deck and puts a golden opportunity for Double or Nothing on the line! This isn’t your typical gauntlet, either! It is “sudden death,” so anyone that scores a pinfall or submission wins, BUT! There are also timed intervals, so more and more competitors will be added, meaning things can get really crazy really quickly. One way or another, the AEW International Champion will have a new challenger, but who will it be when it’s the luck of the draw?
First out, it’s King Switch! Jay White leads Austin & Colten Gunn out as the NEW unified AEW & ROH World Trios Champions, but will Bullet Club Gold be adding even more gold to the collection? Second out, Top Flight’s Dante Martin! Will Angel Dorado get himself a golden ticket instead?
Jay White VS Dante Martin!
The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. White pulls hair to put Dante in the corner, but Dante slips free. They circle again, Dante waistlocks but White switches. White headlocks, Dante powers up but can’t power out as White holds on. White wrenches to wristlock, but Dante flips through and breaks free. White CHOPS, then CHOPS, then CHOPS again! Dante is stinging, the fans “WOO~” and White says guns up! White whips, runs in, but Dante slips out to the apron! Dante then goes up and around, GAMANGIRIS, then springboards. White gets under, Dante comes back, and turns hip toss into RANA! Then he DROPKICKS White down! Cover, TWO!
White bails out, Dante builds speed, and Dante FLIES, but has to handspring through as White moves! White CHOPS, CHOPS, and then brings Dante around. APRON- NO, Dante slips free of the suplex to JUMP KNEE! Dante puts White in, hurries to the apron, and then slingshots to roll, only for White to catch him! EXPLODERÂ out of the ring! But here comes the third man, PENTA EL ZERO MIEDO! The Man with No Fear now makes this a Triple Threat, will he be able to survive these odds?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo!
White storms up but Penta GAMANGIRIS him away! Penta goes up the corner, leaps, CROSSBODY! Penta runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges then SLINGBLADES! Dante returns, but into a SLINGBLADE! Penta whips Dante corner to corner but Dante reverses. Penta SUPERKICKS back, then pops Dante up on the corner, for another SUPERKICK! Dante wobbles into Penta’s fireman’s carry, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Penta spins for the SWINGING DEATH VALLEY! Penta then goes back to a corner, climbs up, but White SHOVES Him to the ramp! White then runs up, fireman’s carries, but Penta fights free! And SUPERKICKS! White flops to the apron, Penta uses him as a step to get up and in and hit a DESTROYER on Dante!! Fans lose their minds as Penta stands, and says “CERO! MIEDO!” Dante bails out so Penta goes after White. Penta CHOPS White, then hears the fans rally up. Penta goes out after Dante, gets him in the ring, and stands him up against ropes. Penta winds up, to CHOP! Dante grits his teeth, but White BOOTS Penta down!
White stands Penta up, CHOPS Penta, but Penta CHOPS in return! Penta hears the fans rallying for “CERO! MIEDO!” and he goes back to SUPERKICK White! Penta stands Dante up, whips him to ropes and SUPERKICKS him down! But then White gets Penta for a cradle, TWO!! Penta escapes, White UPPERCUTS him down! White snarls, stomps Dante, then stomps a mudhole into Dante at the corner. White drags Dante up, whips him to ropes, and back drops him away! White covers, TWO! Penta is after White but White scrambles away as Dynamite returns to single picture. Penta brings Dante up, but Dante fights the suplex!
White storms back in, CLUBS them both down, and next up is KYLE O’REILLY! Whoa, #CombatKyle is now #CleanKyle as his hair and beard are trimmed. Maybe he’s going back to those babyface assassin days!
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly!
Kyle KICKS White down, KICKS Penta down, and KICKS Dante down! Kyle fires forearms on White, then wrenches. Dante gets up, Kyle BOOTS him away, then gives White an ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle wrenches Dante, BOOTS Penta, then hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Wrench on Penta, ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle whips, Penta reverses but Kyle goes up and over. Kyle also ducks Dante so Dante’s LARIAT takes down Penta! Dante runs up, Kyle blocks the kick and gives it to Penta. Then Kyle gets one of Penta’s legs, DOUBLE DRAGON SCREW!! White KNEES Kyle low, runs but into a KNEE from Kyle! Kyle snapmares White, runs, but feints to then SLAP him!
The fans fire up while White frowns. White gets up but Kyle fires off fast strikes! KICK, LEG SWEEP, and the fans fire up! Dante wheelbarrows Kyle, but Kyle drops that into the ARMBAR! White stomps but Kyle catches that, to a HEEL HOOK! White flails, ROPEBREAK! Kyle lets go, and now we add WILL OSPREAY! Will the Aerial Assassin take his momentum from Dynasty and make it Double or Nothing?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay!
Ospreay storms right in, Kyle staring him down! They fire forearms and the fans are thunderous already! Ospreay fires up to fire off a flurry! Kyle KICKS, whips, but Ospreay BOOTS back! Ospreay goes up and out to springboard, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Penta runs up to KICK Ospreay’s leg! Dante gets in, he and Penta double whip, but Ospreay handsprings to DOUBLE PELE! But White SLEEPER- NO, Ospreay arm-drags free! These two know each other well and the fans are thunderous to see this one! White and Ospreay shake hands, but then White CLAWS Ospreay’s face! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS!
White clinches, but Ospreay fights free to CHOP! Ospreay whips, White holds ropes to bail out, but the fans boo. Dante kicks Ospreay and runs, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! And out comes LANCE ARCHER! The Murderhawk Monster says #EverybodyDies, will that be the case in this sudden death gauntlet?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer!
Ospreay shakes his head, but Archer storms right in! Ospreay gets in Archer’s… well, chest, but he fires off forearms! Archer DECKS him! Kyle returns, Archer LARIATS! Penta runs up, Archer LARIATS! White runs up, into a half nelson, dragon sleeper, but Dante jumps in! But into Archer’s hand! CHOKE SLAM DDT COMBO!! Penta jumps onto Archer, fires off hands, then whips. Archer reverses to CLOBBER Penta! Kyle gets up, Archer choke grips, but Kyle turns slam into GUILLOTINE! Kyle thrashes, but Archer THROWS him away! Kyle goes to the apron, Archer DECKS Kyle! Ospreay BOOTS Archer, goes up, but Archer STEP-UP KNEES!
Archer picks Ospreay up in the reverse crucifix! BLACKOUT BOMBÂ onto the others on the outside!! The fans are thunderous and Dynamite goes picture in picture!
Archer storms out to go looking under the ring. Archer brings out a TABLE! Daily’s Place loves it as Archer sets up the furniture at ringside. Archer positions that but Ospreay runs up to fire shots! Archer knees low, SMACKS Ospreay off apron, and then goes around to BOOT Kyle down! And CLUB White down! And get another TABLE! Archer drags that table over White, then sets it up with the other. Archer drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay fires forearms first! Archer RAMS Ospreay into railing! Archer CLUBS away on Ospreay, SMACKS Kyle off apron, BOOTS Dante, then CLUBS White. Archer brings White over, and SMACKS him off the table.
Ospreay fires forearms on Archer, then brings him around to SMACK off the apron. Ospreay goes up, takes aim, and FLYING- BODY CHECK!! Archer just has Ospreay bounce right off him! White ROCKS Archer, ROCKS him again, then brings him around to the tables. White fireman’s carries, but Archer’s too big! Archer CLUBS White, CLUBS him again, then ROCKS him! Archer BOOTS Penta, sends him into railing, then goes back for White. White fights the choke grip but gets an APRON CHOKE SLAM for it!! Archer roars, White dangles before he flops, then Archer goes back up the apron. Archer grins while Dynamite returns to single picture.
Archer drags White up to the apron, but next is KOMANDER! The AAA Cruiserweight Champion’s entrance distracts Archer so that White can CLAW the eyes! We’re now at a Lucky 7 Way, is this where someone’s luck runs out?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer VS Komander!
Komander hurries to the corner, climbs up and tightrope walks, to FLYING RANA, but Archer blocks!! Archer brings Komander back up, only for Komander to RANA Archer down through the tables!! The Murderhawk Monster is hoisted on his own petard and even Komander is stunned! Komander hurries to springboard in at Ospreay, but Ospreay ducks! Komander rolls through, comes back and kicks, then runs, only for Ospreay to TIGER WALL KICK and- NO, Komander ducks the enzigiri, to TIGER WALL KICK back! Things speed up, Komander tilt-o-whirls around the world, DEJA VU DDT!! Cover, White breaks it!!
White clinches to URENAGE!! Cover, TWO!! Komander survives, but White goes back to Ospreay. But Ospreay flips up and through Bladerunner to LIGER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! White survives, but Ospreay takes off the elbow pad! White rises, but here comes JAY LETHAL! We’re at eight, how much longer can this go?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer VS Komander VS Jay Lethal!
Lethal runs in, Ospreay is ready and they brawl! Ospreay kicks, whips but Lethal reverses! Ospreay handsprings through the arm-drag but Lethal still cartwheels to DROPKICK! Dante returns but into the LETHAL COMBINATION! Penta is back and he KICKS Lethal’s leg! Penta whips, Lethal sunset flips but Penta rolls through. Lethal dodges and handsprings, LETHAL INJECTION!! But White’s back to clinch! Lethal slips free, but swings into the SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX! White hurries to clinch again, but Dante MISSILE DROPKICKS them both down! Lethal runs in, Dante goes up and over, then Dante dodges Kyle!
Kyle CLOBBERS Lethal, ducks Dante’s enzigiri, AX & SMASH!! Ospreay returns, Kyle fights the nelson to fire off strikes! KICK, KICK, but Ospreay BUZZSAWS and HEEL KICKS! Kyle yoyos to LARIAT, but Ospreay slips through to pick Kyle up! But Kyle slips free to ROLLING ELBOW! Ospreay SUPERKICKS! Kyle YOYOS into HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Ospreay calls for his shot! Underhooks, but wait, he hesitates. Storm Driver 93 damn near destroyed Bryan Danielson, does he want to do that to Kyle? Kyle back drops free first! Then ARMBAR!! But Komander is up top! CIELITO LINDO onto Kyle!! Cover, HIDDEN BLADE!!!
Ospreay drags Komander to a cover, OSPREAY WINS!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship)
The Assassin found a target and took them out! But here comes the Undisputed Kingdom, the Savior of the Backbreaker leading the way. Roderick Strong stares Ospreay down, with Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, Wardlow and Adam Cole all backing him up. Ospreay doesn’t back down, will he simply tear that gold away from The Kingdom?
Chris Jericho is here!
And as his new theme says, he is The Learning Tree. But what we see is that he is the NEW FTW Champion after cracking Hook in the head with a baseball bat at Dynasty. Jericho smiles and waves at the fans while he gets a mic, but they’re booing back. “Hey, guys! It’s true, I’m the new FTW Champion! It’s great, right? And there’s been a lot of negative connotation with the letters F T W. Does it mean F The World? Does it mean Forget The World? No, it’s none of those things, I’m changing it right here, right now. From now on, this means FOR The World Championship, because this was FOR all of you!”
The fans boo and Taz can’t stomach this on commentary. Jericho says “we” won this together! The whole world is buzzing and he knows why. Jericho is doing God’s work. The Wrestling God, that is, and that’s Terry Funk. Terry once told Jericho that it is now Jericho’s responsibility to teach the younger generation and take them to the next level, and that is what Jericho is doing! Thank you, Terry Funk, and thank you, fans. And thanks, Hook! What a great champion and a tough competitor in the ring. Hook beat the hell outta Jericho, but his only flaw is that there are still certain things he needs to take from The Learning Tree.
There are lessons Jericho wants to teach Hook, including how to get rid of the dead weight that surrounds him: Taz, Shibata, the collateral damage, and all the clowns that support him. More importantly, Hook, you need to listen to Jericho when he says to stay down. Jericho told Hook to stay down but Hook kept getting back up. Even after two Judas Effects! Hook forced Jericho to hit him in the head with the baseball bat. So that’s on Hook. But Jericho knows Hook is listening, thinking on the lessons he learned, and that is exciting to Jericho.
What is also exciting to Jericho is the list of men and women who have been drawn into the #JerichoVortex and come out the other side even bigger and better stars! So many! Jericho is so excited- Wait! “Big Bill” Morrissey is here! Bill has a mic already as he steps to Jericho in the ring. Bill tells Jericho, “I have been in the back listening to you, and I only have one thing to say.” Jericho waits as Bill thinks on his words, and Bill says he needs The Learning Tree! The fans boo, they were clearly hoping for something else.
Bill says everyone knows Jericho is the Socrates of Professional Wrestling! Always willing to give advice, to lend a hand, and to take a less established guy and bring him up to the top with him. That is Chris Jericho to a T. Jericho nods, and Bill knows there is a long line of guys foaming at the mouth for the very opportunity to be under the Learning Tree. But Bill wants Jericho to take this into consideration: there is nobody bigger than Bill, nor better fit for the Learning Tree. Jericho knows it deep down in his heart that Bill is the very best fit for The Learning Tree.
Jericho does have to say, Bill, he has been watching Bill a long time. A fan of his for years. It’s partly why Bill is in AEW. But Jericho will think on what Bill said, and he’ll keep his eye on Bill to see if what he says is true. Bill says go ahead and do that, because he’ll do just that. Just watch him. Bill heads out, Jericho says he sure will be. Let’s celebrate together! Jericho waves and gives a thumbs up, but will Bill be The Learning Tree’s first true pupil?
Backstage interview with The Don Callis Family.
Renee is with Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher and Callis himself as she congratulates Ospreay on becoming #1 contender to the International Championship. Callis, the rest of the Family has had an evening of ups and downs, so- Callis “apologizes” for interrupting but he has to say, he is so happy for the “golden goose,” and now Ospreay will have the gold. An international star deserves the International Championship. The only note Callis has, that Tiger Driver 91, AKA Storm Driver 93. He had that all set up, why didn’t Ospreay use it? No, Ospreay doesn’t wanna do that anymore. Not after what he did to Bryan.
Callis doesn’t understand, what happened? Ospreay says we all saw what happened to Bryan because of his neck, and Kyle O’Reilly has a bad neck, too. Storm Driver has to go. Callis doesn’t care about any of that, Ospreay should win! Roddy’s got a bad neck, so what’s gonna happen if Ospreay shows weakness? Fletcher speaks up saying that Ospreay still won, and he’ll win at Double or Nothing, what does it matter about that move? Callis tells Fletcher shouldn’t be talking about winning after how tonight went. Ospreay WILL be International Champion because he’s gonna nail Roddy with Storm Driver, break his neck, and take his title!
Now, Callis needs to go find Hobbs, he’s gonna coach Powerhouse to a championship tonight, just like Ospreay will win at the PPV. Callis leaves Ospreay and Fletcher behind, Fletcher apologizes on Callis’ behalf. Are the former Empire boys still united despite how Callis is leading this “family?”
BREAKING NEWS for Saturday Night!
Once again, Saturday nights are alright for fighting, and it will be another THREE HOUR BLOCK, but this one will be live coast to coast! The Bang Bang Gang will defend their Unified AEW & ROH World Trios Championships against Top Flight, will Jay White & The Gunns make Dante, Darius & Action breathe with The Switchblade? After what happened tonight, Toni Storm will take on Anna Jay, will Mariah May be avenged? And then on Rampage, Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo finally have it out 1v1, and we get the Parking Lot Brawl! Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor, who proves they were the strongest Best Friend all along?
Collision and Rampage will follow NBA Playoff coverage, keep your eyes open for this one!
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs!
It was a Windy City Riot when The Maniac took this title off Tetsuya Naito, and he made a point of saying he runs from no challenge. NJPW’s Ren Narita and Shota Umino are both waiting on the other side of this match, will they still get their shot at Moxley? Or will the Don Callis Family start to take over the wrestling world?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who makes history in this historic main event!
The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out as the fans rally, and Moxley KICKS a leg. Hobbs stays up, feel things out with Mox, but Moxley KICKS again. The two tie up, Moxley waistlocks the SLEEPERS, but Hobbs RAMS Moxley into buckles. Hobbs throws elbows, stomps a mudhole, then fires hands! Hobbs puts Moxley in a corner, ELBOWS him, but Moxley CHOPS! Hobbs pie faces Moxley, Moxley CHOPS, but Hobbs ROCKS him. Hobbs talks smack, then whips Moxley corner to corner. Moxley stops himself, ROCKS Hobbs, then fires more forearms and KICKS! Moxley runs, but leaps into Hobbs’ arms!
Hobbs pops Moxley up but Moxley slips free to waistlock and GERMAN SUPLEX! But Hobbs is right up!? The fans fire up and Hobbs grins. Moxley runs up, into a clinch! EXPLODER! Moxley writhes, bails out, and Hobbs grins as he goes out after him. Hobbs CLUBS Moxley, but Moxley fires a forearm! Moxley SMACKS Hobbs off the timekeeper’s table, but Hobbs body shots in return! Hobbs SMACKS Moxley off railing, then he runs up, only for Moxley to avoid the boot! Hobbs gets caught up on the railing, Moxley BOOTS him over! Moxley goes up the railing, Hobbs rises, but Moxley AX HANDLES him down!
Moxley headlocks, brings Hobbs around the back of the fans, and throws hands. Moxley ROCKS Hobbs, Hobbs HEADBUTTS, and they brawl! The ring count starts, both men have until 20, and we’re at 4 now. Hobbs SMACKS Moxley off a trash can! Hobbs stalks Moxley around the way, CHOPS, then brings Moxley around to ROCK him! Hobbs stalks Moxley, CLUBS him, then pushes him. Moxley hobbles his way back to railing, but turns around to fire haymakers! Hobbs KNEES low, TOSSES Moxley over railing, then storms after him. The count is 15 but Moxley gets in the ring. Hobbs follows and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Hobbs storms up on Moxley, talks trash, but Moxley SLAPS him and flips him off! Moxley eggs Hobbs on so Hobbs BOOTS him down! Moxley flops to the apron then the floor. Hobbs storms out after Moxley, and RAMS him into railing! Hobbs scoops Moxley to APRON POWERSLAM! And APRON POWERSLAM again! And again!! Hobbs snarls, brings Moxley around and SLINGS him down! Hobbs leaves Moxley behind in the ring to soak up cheers and jeers, and even make the pecs dance. IWGP rules do let titles change hands on count-outs, will Hobbs settle for that? No, Hobbs goes out to fetch Moxley, wanting to beat him directly.
Moxley blocks a suplex, fires forearms, but Hobbs hits back! They brawl, Moxley whips but Hobbs reverses! Moxley hits railing hard, and slumps down. Hobbs sits Moxley up to throw down hands, then goes up to rain down mores fists! The ring count climbs, but Hobbs still goes to TEN! Hobbs brings Moxley around to suplex to the floor! Moxley hobbles away, but Hobbs storms up after him. They go up the steel steps and into the ring, and Hobbs eggs Moxley on. Hobbs stomps Moxley, soaks up more cheers and jeers, then BOOTS Moxley down as Dynamite goes to break!
Dynamite returns and Hobbs says he’s whooping Moxley’s ass! Moxley crawls, Hobbs brings him up, but Moxley CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Hobbs body shots, then BEARHUGS! Moxley endures, even as Hobbs squeezes tight! Hobbs throws body shots, Moxley throws elbows, and Moxley is free. But Hobbs CLUBS Moxley first! Hobbs whips Moxley to a corner, then has him on the rebound. Callis doesn’t want Hobbs to wait, keep on him! Hobbs whips Moxley to the other corner, runs in, but Moxley BOOTS! Moxley runs, but Hobbs SLAMS the cutter down! Moxley staggers up, Hobbs runs in, but the splash only gets buckles!
Hobbs falls, clutching a knee. Hobbs bails out, Moxley goes to ropes and takes aim. Moxley builds speed as Hobbs rises, to DIVE! Down goes Hobbs again! The ref checks Hobbs as Hobbs still clutches his knee. The fans rally for Moxley as he rises, fires himself back up, and then gets Hobbs up. Moxley puts Hobbs in, storms around to slide in from the other side, and then waits on Hobbs. Hobbs rises, hobbles, and Moxley runs up to RAM him into a corner! Moxley goes up to rain down fists! Moxley goes way past ten, all the way to TWENTY!! Moxley keeps going past even that! Hobbs can barely guard, Moxley gives him PARADIGM SHIFT!! Cover, TWO?!?
Moxley slips around to a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Hobbs sputters, flails, reaches out, but Moxley squeezes tight! Hobbs is fading, the ref calls it! MOXLEY WINS!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission (still IWGP World Champion)
Hobbs is a powerhouse, but even he needs to breathe! The Maniac has his first defense in the books, but NJPW Wrestling Dontaku is coming. Will the #SouledOut Ren Narita take this title from Moxley? Or is Moxley going to blast through him to then take on his former protege, Shota Umino? Wait! Konosuke Takeshita appears on stage. The Alpha wants his own shot at that IWGP World Championship, will he get in line ahead of Narita and Shota?
Backstage interview with Katsuyori Shibata.
Renee is with The Wrestler and brings up Jericho’s “choice words” for him. But what does Shibata have to say in response? Shibata uses his Google Translate voice-to-text to say, “Jericho called me deadweight and collateral damage. Next week, I’m going to damage him in his hometown of Winnipeg, and become FTW Champion.” So then that’s an official challenge for the title? “Yes, with FTW Rules. Jericho, I’m going to chop down your Learning Tree.” Okay then, Winnipeg, Jericho VS Shibata for the FTW title, it is official! Shibata then adds that the rhinestones on Renee’s shirt make a heart, how nice. Yes, she thought so, too.
Shibata is ready to take the fight to Jericho, will The Wrestler prove the Learning Tree is all bark and no bite?
Tony Schiavone is in the ring.
“Ladies and gentlemen… Jack Perry.” The fans are torn as The Scapegoat makes his way out, with no music since he isn’t an AEW talent anymore. Jack takes the mic from Schiavone while fans sing, “OH~ Cry Me a River~!” Jack says first thing’s first, he wants it known that he’s had some of the best nights of his life right here in Jacksonville! The fans cheer that! Jack says tonight… they have business to handle. And he wants to handle it right here, right now, face to face… with Tony Khan! Jack waits, the fans chant “He’s Our Scapegoat!” and here comes TK. Tony Khan joins Jack in the ring, as promised earlier tonight.
Jack says it has been a long road. TK agrees. Almost five years ago was the very first Double or Nothing. And since then, AEW has gone on to change the world. But now, TK, it is no secret they’ve had their ups and downs, haven’t always seen eye to eye. But Jack will say right now, from the bottom of his heart, he swears to God, the only thing that Jack has ever wanted is what’s best for AEW. The fans cheer that and TK applauds as he agrees there. So Jack just wants to ask TK to please shake his hand, reinstate him, and let’s go on to continue to change the world together. The fans like the sound of that!
TK gives a big thumbs up, he and Jack shake hands, and they hug it out! Jack is All Elite once again, and then Jack smiles at the camera… Jack raises TK’s hand, the fans cheer, and then Jack DECKS TK!! The Elite rush out here, from Nick to Matt to Okada, and they ask Jack what the hell! This is TK, THE boss of AEW! You can’t just do that, Jack! Jack nods, backs away, and The Bucks help TK sit up, but it looks a little suspicious…! The Bucks realize the optics, as does Okada, and they all say no no no, it’s not what anyone thinks. They help TK to his feet, and then Okada says do it. Matt scoops TK!! Nick goes up a corner!! T K DRIVER ON TK?!?!
The fans lose their minds as The EVPs stand over Tony Khan’s body! Jack drags TK to the center of the ring so all four of them can stand together. The refs rush out and ask what the hell is wrong with the EVPs! Jack says he waited for eight MONTHS to do that! Matt thanks Jacksonville for a great night, they love everyone so much! Jack, Okada, Nick & Matt leave the ring to have their curtain call on the stage. The Elite is running All Elite Wrestling now, are they going to change the world and remake it in their image?
As for Tony Khan, not only do wrestlers like Top Flight, The Infantry, Penta and Komander rush out to check on him, Tony’s father, Shahid Khan, is here! Shahid checks on his son, what will be done as the consequences for The Elite’s actions?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode of Dynamite here, but they were really not handling the audio that well. It was so hard to hear quite a few of the promos, well delivered as they all were. Rosa VS Deonna being set up was a good move, that’s definitely gonna be great. Really good stuff from Jericho as he leans into the obliviously selfish veteran persona, and I was definitely surprised Big Bill wanting to join him. Shibata has a good promo to call Jericho out, but if it’s FTW Rules, pretty sure Bill is gonna screw Shibata over so Jericho wins. And great stuff with the former Best Friends, Chuck VS Trent in a Parking Lot Brawl is going to be awesome stuff, but I wonder if Orange Cassidy messes it up for Chuck.
Great stuff with the Don Callis Family through the night. Moxley had a good promo to hype up the main event with Hobbs, but unfortunately, I think the match got cut down because Hobbs actually got hurt. Moxley was of course retaining, but this doesn’t help. Konosuke stepping up is fine, though, a natural move given this BCC VS DCF story going on. Fletcher stepped up to Swerve in the match tonight, but it was also very clear Swerve was going to win. The Casino Gauntlet wasn’t really named well, and they didn’t really explain it properly before it started, but it was clearly based on William Regal’s Gauntlet Eliminator from NXT a couple years ago.
However, in execution, it was amazing! Great win for Ospreay and a great showing for all the wrestlers involved, Ospreay VS Roddy will be great stuff. But I also really like that they’re not only going with Ospreay being hesitant about Storm Driver, but they’re going with what I was hoping for. Ospreay and Fletcher are likeminded but that means they clash with how Callis wants to do things. This very well could lead to Ospreay & Fletcher VS Konosuke & Hobbs, so long as Hobbs isn’t out of action. Maybe Don Callis Family finds someone else to bring in to make up for that, but also as foreshadowing of Ospreay and Fletcher leaving the group.
I also like that they seem to be heading for another idea I had when it comes to Toni Storm, Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa. Great match from Mina VS Anna with a good win for Mina, but also Anna going Heel on her and Mariah. For that matter, that should mean Mariah and Storm are turning Face to counter, which is fitting since the fans love them so much anyway. Storm defends Mariah, she’ll definitely beat Anna this Saturday, and then we can move into Storm and Mina fighting for Mariah’s affections. And great stuff from the TBS Championship story. Great promos, for one, and then great detail that Kris gets Willow hit. Has it been Kris behind the attacks all along? If Willow somehow retains at Double or Nothing, Kris going after her would be a wild twist.
And of course, incredible stuff out of this story with Jack Perry’s return. Good opening bit as Jack arrives and the EVPs vouch for him, and good little backstage bit to set up the closing segment. I just knew the moment Jack asked for a handshake, he was just setting Tony Khan up. The entire Elite beating TK down was wild but powerful, and this is very much their nWo moment. This combined with Kenny Omega making his return next week, there is something big brewing in a very nWo VS Wolfpac kinda way. Kenny, Hangman & FTR uniting against Okada, Jack & Bucks? Feels like an awesome 8 Man to me.
My Score: 8.8/10
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The House of Torture gets another try!
Despite losing in the NEVER Openweight Six Man title tournament, the House of Torture get one more shot against Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg! But will shuffling the deck really help the King of Darkness trump President Ace?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Shoma Kato VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- 8 Man Tag: El Desperado, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Katsuya Murashima VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture; Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg win and retain the titles.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Yota Tsuji VS Gedo; Tsuji wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: BUSHI VS Gabe Kidd; Gabe wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Shingo Takagi VS Clark Connors; Takagi wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Tetsuya Naito VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Drilla wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Hiromu Takahashi VS David Finlay; Finlay wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture!
Don’t adjust your screens, this is not a rematch from Wrestling World in Taiwan. That’s because while The Ace, the Joker and the Rook won the tournament, they’re up against a different formation! The King of Darkness and Heel Master now have Tokyo Pimp as their third man, but will that change be enough to change the result? Or will Tanahshi-sachou and team be an undefeated combination?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if Darkness Falls!
The teams sort out, and Oleg starts against Yoshinobu Kanemaru. The fans rally behind “BO-LU-TIN! BO-LU-TIN!” as he circles with Kanemaru, but then Evil & Yujiro attack! The fans boo, Tanahashi & Yano hurry in but Evil & Yujiro get them first! Kanemaru drags Oleg out of the ring to stomp him down while Evil & Yujiro have Tanahashi & Yano in corners. Yujiro fires forearms, Evil CHOPS, then the House all whips. But Oleg reverses and sends Kanemaru into railing! And Tanahashi & Yano reverse to send Evil & Yujiro into each other! Oleg returns to CLOBBER Evil & Yujiro! The fans fire up as now Yano & Tanahashi intercept Kanemaru.
Tanahashi & Yano whip Kanemaru to Oleg for a scoop and SLAM! The fans rally behind the champs as Oleg paces around Kanemaru. Oleg stomps Kanemaru, tags Tanahashi, and Tanahashi eggs Evil on. Evil tags in, Tanahashi kicks first! Tanahashi fires hands, UPPERCUTS, then tears away the “President Evil” shirt to TOSS it away! Evil is furious, he made that himself! Tanahashi throws a body shot, then whips Evil corner to corner. Evil reverses, runs in, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up for the air guitar and Tanahashi tags in Yano! Yano unties a buckle pad, dodges Evil, then gives Evil the pad!
The ref reprimands Evil and confiscates the pad, and Yano SLAPS Evil on the head! Yano whips, Evil reverses, but Yano avoids the bare buckles. Evil runs up to SLAP Yano, and shove him into the buckles! Kanemaru & Yujiro BLAST Tanahashi & Oleg off the corner! Evil SMACKS Yano with the pad! Evil TOSSES Yano out of the ring, distracts the ref, and that lets Dick DECK Yano! Dick drags Yano up and puts him in the ring for Evil to cover. TWO! Evil is upset with the “slow count,” and he tags Kanemaru. Kanemaru runs to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Kanemaru ELBOWS Yano in the head!
Kanemaru snapmares Yano down into a chinlock and drags him to the corner. The ref reprimands but Yujiro tags in. Kanemaru lets go, so that Yujiro can CHOKE Yano! The ref counts, Yujiro lets off, and he drags Yano back up. Yujiro whips Yano into the bare buckles! Yano suffers his own trick, and Yujiro brings him up to knee low. Yujiro snapmares, drops a leg, then drops an elbow! Then he drops a HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Yujiro tags to Evil. Evil BLASTS Tanahashi & Oleg off the corner! Dick distracts the ref so Evil can put Yano in the COBRA TWIST, and link up with the others!
The fans boo but the House gets away with that. Evil covers, TWO! Evil is even more upset with the ref, and he drags Yano up. Evil reels Yano in for a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Wait, who is ringing the bell? Dick is ringing the bell, and Kanemaru is giving the announcement that they’ve won! The fans boo, this is of course a farce. Tanahashi & Oleg storm over, scaring off Dick and Kanemaru. Evil tags Kanemaru, then TOSSES Yano outside. Kanemaru drags Yano back up to whip him into railing! Then DDTÂ to the floor! Yano is down in enemy territory while Tanahashi argues with the ref.
The fans rally up but Yujiro puts Yano in. Kanemaru covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Kanemaru drags Yano around. Yano is dead weight so Kanemaru leaves him behind to BLAST Tanahashi! Kanemaru drags Yano up but Yano pulls hair! Kanemaru CLAWS Yano’s eyes! Kanemaru whips, Yano reverses and throws him down by his hair! The fans fire up as Yano crawls, hot tag to Oleg! The fans fire up as Oleg CLOBBERS Kanemaru, BLASTS Evil & Yujiro, then runs in at the corner. Kanemaru BOOTS Oleg, runs, but into a POP-UP BEARHUG! Kanemaru endures, but then Oleg turns that into a BIG suplex! The fans fire up as Oleg storms around.
Oleg deadlift gut wrenches, but Dick gets on the apron. Oleg drops Kanemaru to scare Dick off. But then Yano puts Dick in! Dick prays and begs for mercy, but Oleg just deadlift gut wrenches him! Shake, Rattle and THROW! And a kip up!? Oleg then gets Kanemaru back up, Shake, Rattle, and some more shaking, and THROW! Oleg roars, runs, and SPLASHES down! Cover, Evil & Yujiro break it! Then they BLAST Tanahashi & Yano! The House stomps away on Oleg, then drag him up. They double whip Oleg to a corner, then Yujiro BOOTS! Evil clotheslines! They snapmare, Kanemaru distracts the ref, and Dick goes up!
The fans boo but Dick hits the DICK CHOP! Kanemaru covers, TWO!! The fans fire up but Evil tags back in. Evil and Kanemaru get Oleg up to suplex, but Oleg fights it! Oleg DOUBLE SUPLEXES back! Hot tag to Tanahashi! Ace of the Universe meets King of Darkness, and Tanahashi runs to CLOBBER Evil! Tanahashi fires forearms and body shots on Evil, then scoop SLAMS him into a drop zone! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Tanahashi as he waits on Evil. Tanahashi runs, but Evil goes to the corner! Evil LARIATS Tanahashi down! Tag to Yujiro and he storms up on Tanahashi.
Yujiro brings Tanahashi up to knee low and fire forearms. Yujiro CHOPS then runs up, to BOOT! Yujiro then runs, to BOOT again! Tanahashi SHOTEIS! Tanahashi runs, but Yujiro TOSSES him out! Evil is there to set Tanahashi up for a whiskey bottle shot! Evil puts Tanahashi back in, then he and the rest go after Oleg and Yano! Yujiro gets Tanahashi up for an INCOLLE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Yujiro goes for his pimp cane, but the ref stops him! That leaves Dick open to use the SPOILER CHOKER on Tanahashi!! The fans boo as President Ace suffers! Tanahashi fades out, Dick slips away, and Yujiro laughs.
Yujiro drags Tanahashi up while the fans rally. Yujiro reels Tanahashi in, but Yano gets in to grab Yujiro! Kanemaru gets in while the ref is distracted again! But Yano ducks, the WHISKEY MIST hits Yujiro! LOW BLOW for Kanemaru! But Evil LOW BLOWS Yano! So Tanahashi LOW BLOWS Evil! Dick gets in but Tanahashi kicks the ropes! Dick falls, Oleg returns, and he gets Yujiro up! Tanahashi climbs, Oleg hits the KAMIKAZE SENTON! Then Tanahashi HIGH FLY FLOWS!! Cover, Team Go Ace wins!
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
The House of Torture tried their usual tricks, but Tanahashi’s team proved they could play that, too! The Ace, the Joker & The Rook stand tall again, will The House have to start playing a different game?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Yota Tsuji VS Gedo!
While Los Ingobernables de Japon and the Bullet Club War Dogs have already done battle on this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, tonight is a best of five series! Will it be Gene Blast or Blacksmith that sets the tone for tonight?
The moment Yota hops off the corner, Gedo takes a swing! Yota dodges and GENE BLASTER!! The bell rings, Yota covers, Yota wins!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall
Well not sure about the tone but this sure set a new record! From bell the bell, that was FIVE SECONDS! Score one for LIJ already, and Yota helps roll Gedo out of the ring. Will LIJ make this a shut out? Or will the other War Dogs be a bit smarter about the pitches they throw across the plate?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: BUSHI VS Gabe Kidd!
Round two is here sooner than expected after what we just saw, and the Black Mask is up against the #WarReady Mad Man. Gabe vows to take back everything NJPW used to mean, but will he get War Dogs on the board? Or will Bushi keep things tranquilo?
Bushi climbs onto the corner and Gabe rushes him! Bushi jumps over, the bell rings and Bushi DROPKICKS Gabe down! Bushi whips, Gabe reverses but Bushi ducks ‘n ‘dodges to RANA! Gabe bails out, Bushi builds speed, but Gabe gets away. Bushi slides out, but Gabe kicks and CHOPS! Gabe UPPERCUTS Bushi down, then drags Bushi up to dig at Bushi’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Gabe storms around and mockingly calls upon the wrestling gods. Gabe runs but Bushi dodges, Gabe crashes into railing! The fans fire up while Bushi rises. Bushi brings Gabe up, fires forearms, then brings Gabe around. Gabe blocks the bump off the apron to whip Bushi hard into railing!
Bushi flounders and Gabe snarls while the fans rally up. Gabe storms out to open the way to the orange bleachers! Gabe ROCKS Bushi, brings him around and they go up into the stands. Gabe HEADBUTTS Bushi down, shouts “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” then continues up to the next level. Bushi fights the lift but Gabe CLUBS him! Gabe lifts again but Bushi still fights! Gabe CLUBS away on Bushi, CHOPS and HAYMAKERS! Gabe backs up, flips everyone off, and he runs back in, but Bushi dropkicks the leg! Bushi SMACKS Gabe off railing, then he goes up higher into the stands! Bushi stands on the ledge, to SUPER CROSSBODY! Down go Gabe and the Young Lions!
The fans are thunderous as Bushi rises, and he brings Gabe up. Bushi headlocks Gabe to bring him back down the bleachers. Gabe throws body shots but Bushi throws hands in return. Bushi brings Gabe back to ground level, then through the gate. They return to ringside but Gabe CLUBS Bushi down again. Gabe HEADBUTTS, then he puts Bushi in. The fans rally, but Gabe drags Bushi around to ROCK him again. Gabe has Bushi on the apron, CLUBS him again, then brings Bushi out. Bushi fights the suplex to throw body shots! Gabe HEADBUTTS again, but Bushi fires more hands! Bushi puts Gabe in and the fans cheer.
Bushi drags Gabe up but blocks his haymaker to spin and DDT! Cover, TWO! Bushi goes to a corner while Gabe sputters. Gabe stands, Bushi runs in, but no Code Breaker! Gabe ELBOWS, JABS and YUKON LARIATS! Gable copies Takagi, covers, TWO! Gabe flips off the fans, they boo, and so he just flips them off more. Gabe eggs Bushi on, taunts him, so Bushi CHOPS! Gabe dusts himself off, Bushi CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS, says Bushi ain’t got nothing, but Bushi fires a flurry! Gabe CHOPS again, Bushi DOUBLE CHOPS! Gabe UPPERCUTS, then he gut wrenches! But Bushi slips free and shoves!
Gabe blocks one kick, ducks the enzigiri, but not the REWIND HEEL! Bushi reels Gabe in, for a DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and flounders away while the fans fire up. Gabe flops right out of the ring but Bushi pursues. Bushi drags Gabe up, but Gabe HEADBUTTS him back down! Gabe rips away the LIJ shirt to tell them to suck it! Gabe SPITS on the shirt, throws it down, then goes back for Bushi. Gabe puts Bushi in, Bushi goes to a corner, and Gabe runs in to clothesline! Gabe suplexes, Bushi slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and uses the ref as a shield! BLACK MIST!! Bushi gets the better of Gabe and hooks the arms!
Gabe fights the backslide, BOOTS the ref, so the ref can’t see the Bushi Roll! Bushi would’ve had this one! Bushi goes to check on the ref but Gabe storms up to HAYMAKER! Gabe shouts at the ref, drags him back up, and then storms over to Bushi! PILEDRIVER!! Cover, Gabe wins!
Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall
The series is tied 1-1, and Gabe shouts for water to wash out the mist. LIJ VS War Dogs aside, Gabe now has momentum going into his NEVER Openweight Championship match with Shingo Takagi. Will the Rampaging Dragon be just as #WarReady as Gabe after tonight?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Shingo Takagi VS Clark Connors!
Speaking of the NEVER Openweight Champion, he’s third up in the batting order, ready to drive home another run. Will the Rampaging Dragon score and soar towards Wrestling Dontaku? Or will he be struck out by 100 Proof?
Takagi and Connors get in each other’s face and talk some trash. Connors shoves but the ref has them both back down. Connors gets all fired up, Takagi says okay then, and the bell rings, only for Connors to bail out. The fans boo Connors trolling them, but he says tranquilo. Takagi paces while Connors goes around the outside. Takagi dares Connors to get in but Connors dares Takagi to come on out. The fans rally up so Connors goes back to the apron. Connors steps in, fires up, but then bails out. But Takagi pursues! They go around the ring, back in, and then Connors RAMS Takagi! But Takagi doesn’t fall!
Connors runs again, RAMS Takagi, but still Takagi stays up. Connors fires forearm after forearm after forearm, but then Takagi ROCKS, KNEES, CLUBS and CHOPS! And JABS! Takagi whips, Connors ducks ‘n’ dodges to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds, but Connors runs him over! The fans fire up while Takagi goes to a corner. Connors runs corner to corner to clothesline, then he reels Takagi in. Takagi fights the suplex, and he suplexes Connors instead! The fans fire up again but Connors bails back out. Takagi pursues, JABS, then SMACKS Connors off the apron. Takagi follows Connors around, POSTS him, and the fans cheer.
Takagi stomps Connors, Connors goes around the way but Takagi follows. Takagi runs up to BOOT Connors, then follows him. Connors uses a Young Lion as a shield, then shoves him into Takagi! Connors then whips Takagi into railing! Takagi leans against railing and Connors UPPERCUTS! Connor opens the gate and pushes Takagi into No Man’s Land. Connors brings Takagi around to SMACK off the wood bleachers! Takagi hits back, they brawl, and Takagi knees low! Takagi whips, Connors reverses and Takagi is sent into the wall of the hallway! Connors throws up the Too Sweet but the fans boo.
Connors brings Takagi back to SMACK into the gate, then POST! Connors reels Takagi in, to snap suplex to the floor! Takagi writhes, the ref reprimands but Connors wants the ring count to start. The ring count does start, and Connors scoops a Young Lion to SLAM him onto Takagi! And then he grabs another Young Lion to SPINEBUSTER onto Takagi! Connors slides into the ring at 10 of 20 while Takagi pushes the Young Lions off him. Takagi stands at 17, hurries up at 18, but Connors SPEARS him down! Cover, TWO!! Takagi is still in this and the fans rally, but Connors keeps on Takagi with a half nelson.
Takagi fights as Connors goes for the full nelson! Takagi reaches out but Connors keeps him from ropes. Takagi fights to his feet, powers up, but Connors keeps the nelson! The fans rally more as Takagi keeps fighting. Takagi powers the hold open, but Connors spins him to knee low! Connors whips, but Takagi avoids the snap powerslam! Takagi runs up to SLIDING- NO, Connors dodges, but runs into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up and Takagi goes to a corner. Connors flounders around, rises up, and Takagi storms up to the corner. Takagi clotheslines, then JABS and CHPOS on repeat! Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS and CHOPS!
Takagi whips corner to corner, runs in to clothesline again, then short arm LARIAT! Takagi scoops Connors to SLAM him, then he goes up and up for the FALLING ELBOW DROP! Takagi hauls Connors up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Connors is still in this but Takagi looks around. The fans rally with “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi says, “OI, KORAKUEN! TOKI GA KITA!!” The time has come and the “OI! OI! OI!” continues. Takagi brings Connors up, pump handle, but Connors fights the lift! Connors throws elbows, then ROCKS Takagi! Takagi eggs Connors on, Connors throws another forearm! Takagi fires back!
Connors fires more forearms, but Takagi HEADBUTTS! Connors HEADBUTTS, but he’s the one wobbling! Connors ROCKS Takagi with a forearm, then eggs Takagi on. Takagi ROCKS Connors with boxing elbows! Takagi runs, Connors follows to LARIAT against ropes! Connors runs but Takagi follows to KNEE against ropes! Takagi keeps moving, Connors gets under to come back and POUNCE! Then a whip and SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! But Connors powers up and runs, to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, ONE?!?! The fans fire up but Connors aims from a corner! Connors runs in to SPEAR!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous!
Connors rises, Takagi stirs, and Connors brings Takagi up. But Takagi fights No Chaser! Takagi wrenches out to JAB! And HEADBUTT! Connors dodges the lariat, but runs into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Takagi runs up to PUMPING BOMBER! Then SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Connors shakes his head as he stays in this, but Takagi roars! Takagi pump handles for MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?! Connors survives and shocks Takagi, but the fans are thunderous again! “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi powers up. Takagi runs, but Connors dodges! But PUMPING BOMBER still finds him! Cover, Takagi wins!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall
We’re halfway done and LIJ takes the lead! Takagi has momentum for himself, too, but will the Rampaging Dragon be #WarReady for Gabe Kidd? Or will Wrestling Dontaku be the end of the road for Takagi?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Tetsuya Naito VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!
The Uncontrollable Charisma may no longer be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but we all know he never lets things get to him. Will he therefore stay tranquilo as he looks to win this series for his team? Or will he lose a shootout with the .44 Caliber?
As always, Naito takes his time with his entrance attire. Drilla mockingly asks what happened to his belt, but Naito doesn’t let that get his goat. The fans rally for Naito and that annoys Drilla. Naito puts the pants away, the bell rings, and Drilla runs up! But Naito puts him on the apron, and sweeps the legs! Then he DROPKICKS Drilla down! Naito goes out slowly to fetch Drilla, CLUB him on the neck, and then CLUB him again. Naito CLUBS Drilla more, cravats for a neck wrench, and even grinds Drilla against railing! The ref counts, Naito puts Drilla in, and the fans applaud. But Drilla comes back to WRECK Naito with a dropkick!
Drilla whips Naito hard into railing, and Naito gets stuck! Drilla dumps him over, tells fans off about cheering for Naito, then drags Naito up and around. Drilla CHOPS Naito, follows him along the way, and whips him hard into railing! The fans applaud the impressive speed and strength, but Drilla leaves Naito behind as Naito slumps into the front row. The ring count climbs, Naito sits up at 7 of 20. Naito finds his way around to the gate at 12, steps in at ringside, and rolls in at 15. Drilla throws Naito’s hat at him, then stomps away! Drilla drags Naito up, HEADBUTTS him, then has him on ropes. Drilla CHOPS and Naito staggers.
Drilla eggs Naito on so Naito fires forearms! Naito whips, Drilla reverses and ELBOWS Naito down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Naito but Drilla digs his knee into Naito’s neck! The ref counts, Drilla lets off to get in the ref’s face, but the ref reminds Drilla to respect his authority. Drilla kicks Naito around, steps on Naito’s head, then taunts the fans. Naito gets up to throw hands but Drilla hits back! They go back and forth, forearm for forearm, but then Drilla CHOPS! Drilla runs, into an ELBOW! Drilla rebounds, but Naito hip toss NECKBREAKERS! The fans rally as Naito rises and Drilla writhes. Naito drags Drilla up to fire forearms and kicks!
Naito whips, arm-drags, then he ELBOWS Drilla down to basement dropkick in the back! Naito turns Drilla for a NECKBREAKER! Drilla writhes, Naito pushes him to a cover, TWO! Naito keeps on Drilla with a cravat neck wrench. Drilla endures, fights around, and he fights up. Drilla breaks free, CLUBS Naito, then runs, but Naito catches him to a dragon sleeper, NECKBREAKER! Drilla fights the legs but Naito still hooks him into the LEG HOOK NELSON! Drilla endures, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK! Naito again “forgets” how to undo the hold, so the ref pries the legs away.
Drilla is free and clutches his neck, but Naito paces around. Naito drags Drilla back up, but Drilla CHOPS! Naito fires a forearm in return! Drilla CHOPS! Naito forearms! The shots go back and forth, Drilla grunts and has a crazy grin. Drilla fires a forearm, Naito mocks the grunt! Naito fires back, both men grunt and fire forearms again! Drilla CHOPS, but then Naito ROCKS him, SPITS on him, and fires off more forearms! Drilla gets under, shoves Naito then hurdles, drops and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Naito and Drilla go to opposite corners, and Drilla runs corner to corner! Drilla blocks a boot but Naito SPITS!
Naito runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Drilla horks up and SPITS a big one at Naito, then DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Naito stays in this and Drilla is seething. Drilla slashes his throat and throws up the Too Sweet. Drilla drags Naito up, reels him in, but Naito fights the lift. Drilla ENZIGIRIS Naito, then gets him back up! Canadian Rack, but Naito arm-drags Drilla into the ref! The ref tumbles all the way out, Naito atomic drops Drilla and ENZIGIRIS! COMPLETE SHOT, and then PLUMA BLANCA!! Drilla endures, flails, is he tapping? But there’s no ref anyway! Wait, David Finlay rushes out here!
The Rebel taunts Naito while swinging the shillelagh! Naito lets Drilla go, only for JAKE LEE to show up!?! Talk about a CrossOver, the Good Looking Emperor is here in NJPW and he fires hands with Naito!! The fans are going nuts, but Naito gets the edge! Only for Jake to KNEE low! Jake puts Naito in a corner, takes aim, and runs in to HELLUVA KICK!!! Or as he calls it, #FaceBreakShot! Naito staggers into Drilla’s arms, for the DRILLA KILLA!!! Cover and the ref is back, Drilla wins!!
Winner: “Drilla” Dan Moloney, by pinfall
The Rebel gets the Madness Dark Side to help him screw over Naito, and now this series is all tied up again! But then Finlay & Drilla beat Naito down more! Jake steps in, and the War Dogs back away. Jake stands on Naito’s chest, then stomps away! Is Jake going to destroy Naito once and for all? But wait! Here comes Hiromu! The Ticking Timebomb ROCKS Jake, ROCKS Drilla, then fires off on Finlay! But then Drilla & Finlay mug Hiomru! They double whip, but Hiormu ducks ‘n’ dodges to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! Hiromu goes out after Finlay, but Drilla CLUBS Hiromu! They POST Hiromu, but what about the main event!?
Red Shoes hurries out here, the fans tell Jake and Drilla to go home. Jake literally kicks Naito out of the ring and then stands him up against railing. Jake gets space, takes aim again, and Finlay makes Hiromu watch the FACE BREAK SHOT that sends Naito into the front row!! The fans boo and tell Jake to go home. Jake smirks as he takes his leave with Drilla, the damage done. Is there an alliance between Jake’s Good Looking Guys and Finlay’s War Dogs? Is Naito just the first casualty of many?
As for Finlay and Hiromu, Finlay RAMS Hiromu into railing! And then RAMS him in again! Finlay RAMS Hiromu a third time, then he soaks up the heat. Red Shoes reprimands, but this isn’t officially a match yet. Finlay takes aim, he runs in, but Hiromu sends him into railing! Hiromu gets Finlay in, the bell rings, and it’s time to settle the score!
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Hiromu Takahashi VS David Finlay!
Hiromu fireman’s carries, CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Finlay slips away! The fans rally for Hiromu as he eggs Finlay on. Finlay snarls, storms back up but Hiromu then SUNSET FLIPS! Finlay holds ropes to throw down hands! Hiromu staggers away, Finlay fireman’s carries him now! Finlay runs and THROWS Hiromu at a post! The fans boo while Finlay throws up the Too Sweet and taunts them all. Finlay leaves Hiromu behind, he tells the fans they look stupid, then he goes back to fetch Hiromu. Finlay slaps Hiromu around, drags him up, and throws him into the ring.
Finlay crawls to a cover but Red Shoes says nope, too many shenanigans. Finlay is upset, there were a lot of shenanigans both ways. But Finlay drags Hiromu up to suplex and TOSS Hiromu! Now things are fine and Finlay covers, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Finlay mocks the “MOTO! MOTO!” Finlay whips Hiromu hard into a corner! Hiromu falls then crawls, and Finlay taunts him that it’s too easy. Finlay stalks Hiromu to another corner as the fans rally up, but Finlay makes Hiromu smile! Finlay says smile like Tsuji! Red Shoes reprimands, Finlay lets off, but then he drags Hiromu up to whip hard into another corner!
Hiromu staggers and falls out of the ring and Red Shoes checks him. Finlay waits on Hiromu while he writhes on the floor. Finlay mockingly says “Moto! Moto!” Red Shoes has Finlay stay back, and the ring count starts. Hiromu stands at 4 of 20 while Finlay lounges on the ropes. The fans rally, Hiromu rolls in at 10, but Finlay brings him back up. Finlay scoops and carries Hiromu around for a BACKBREAKER! Finlay says he’s strong AF, and then he kicks Hiromu around. Finlay mocks the fans chanting for Hiromu, and that makes them boo Finlay. Finlay pushes Hiromu around, so Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS!
Finlay dusts himself off, eggs Hiromu on, so Hiromu CHOPS again! Finlay felt that one so he knees low. Finlay runs, Hiromu follows, and Hiromu RANAS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Finlay flounders while Hiromu goes to ropes. Finlay runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu then has a HANGING HEADSCISSOR! Red Shoes counts, Hiromu lets go at 4 and he drags Finlay out to wheelbarrow FACEBUSTER to the floor! The fans rally up behind Hiromu and he goes to the apron. Hiromu aims as Finlay stands, FLYING SHOTGUN sends Finlay through the gate! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he pursues.
Hiromu smiles at TJP on English commentary, then gets a real “MOTO! MOTO! MOTO!” going. Hiromu gets Finlay up and in, and Finlay goes to a corner. Hiromu runs up to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Hiromu keeps his cool and he kicks Finlay around. Hiromu drags Finlay up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay fights free. Hiromu takes a swing, but Finlay catches him to an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives but Finlay scoops him, for the SWINGING IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives again and Finlay grows frustrated.
Finlay mocks Yota Tsuji as he powers up and goes to the corner. Hiromu rises, Finlay flips him off, and steals GENE- TRIANGLE D!! Hiromu has Finlay caught and the fans fire up! Finlay flails, tries to stack Hiromu, but Hiromu squeezes tighter! Finlay is fading and the fans fire up! But Finlay gets a second wind, deadlifts Hiromu, and POWERBOMBS him down! Finlay is free of D, but both men are down as the fans rally again. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, and lifts, but Hiromu RANAS to a cover! TWO!! Finlay escapes, kicks low and whips, but Hiromu slips free of Deep Six to wheelbarrow and COMPLETE SHOT!
The fans fire up while Finlay flounders! But Finlay sneaks his shillelagh into the ring! The fans rally for Hiromu while Finlay hides the shillelagh under him. Hiromu rises, Finlay shields the shillelagh from Red Shoes but Red Shoes is suspicious. Red Shoes sees the weapon! Finlay shoves Red Shoes away and takes a swing, but Hiromu dodges! SUPERKICK! Hiromu takes the shillelagh now! The fans are torn, but then Hiromu plays like Finlay did hit him! Red Shoes isn’t sure who to believe, but Finlay really is innocent this time! Finlay argues with Red Shoes but fans boo to help sell Hiromu’s trick.
Hiromu then runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! And then fireman’s carry! TIMEBOMB 1.5! Cover, TWO! Finlay is still in this but the fans are still with Hiromu. Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Finlay fights free. Hiromu elbows, runs, but into an UPPERCUT! Finlay runs, but into a SUPERKICK! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER, but Finlay stays up! Hiromu runs again, but Finlay catches him spins him, ROLLING ELBOWS, then runs! Into a SUPERKICK! Finlay returns, for another SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! The fans are thunderous and Hiromu gets Finlay up, suplex and INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!!
Finlay survives his own move but Hiromu won’t let that bother him! Hiromu drags himself up, dragon sleepers Finlay, but Finlay fights the suplex with knees! Finlay suplexes, but Hiromu knees free! Hiromu runs, but Finlay LARIATS! Finlay hauls Hiromu up, Canadian Rack, DOMINATOR!! Cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and the fans are thunderous! Finlay goes to a corner as he thinks on what to do next. Finlay storms over to Hiromu, says it’s over now, and he drags Hiromu back up. But Hiromu slips out of the bomb to tuck the arms! Finlay wrenches out, but into TRIANGLE D!! Finlay flails, CLUBS at Hiromu, but he’s fading again!
Red Shoes checks, the fans rally up, and Finlay fights to deadlift again! POWERBOMB, but Hiromu just holds onto D!! Finlay is fading, flailing, reaching out, but Hiromu squeezes tight! Finlay deadlifts again! BUCKLE BOMB, and INTO OBLIVION!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Hiromu survives again and Finlay is beside himself! The fans are electric as Finlay shakes his head. Hiromu sputters but Finlay brings down the kneepads. Finlay slashes his throat and vows to end this! Finlay drags Hiromu back up, suplexes, but Hiromu slip free! Hiromu wrenches, pump handles, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL!! TWO!!! Finlay escapes and Hiromu is frustrated!
Both men catch their breath while the fans rally as hard as they can. Hiromu grits his teeth, pounds the mat, and rises up. Hiromu hobbles over but Finlay UPPERCUTS! Hiromu comes back, into another UPPERCUT! And another UPPERCUT! And another! And another, and another! But Hiromu stays on his feet, even as Finlay UPPERCUTS again! And again! And again!! Hiromu won’t stop, but Finlay won’t, either! The fans rally and Finlay eggs Hiromu on. Hiromu runs in, into another UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! Hiromu roars, runs, but into an UPPERCUT!! Hiromu drops to his knees, and Finlay says this is it!
Finlay suplexes, INTOÂ OVERKILL!! Cover, Finlay wins!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall
Bullet Club War Dogs takes the best of five in the fifth and final round! It took much more than Finlay wanted, but Hiromu always gives it his all. Will the Timebomb be able to fire back up in time for the Best of the Super Juniors?
Wait, Drilla returns, and now the War Dogs mug Hiromu! But then Tsuji & Takagi return to run them off! The War Dogs egg them on and vice-versa, but then GABE KIDD runs in! He CLOBBERS Takagi, DECKS Tsuji, and the War Dogs beat up on LIJ! The fans boo but the War Dogs just keep stomping LIJ! Drilla stands Tsuji up for Finlay’s SHILLELAGH SHOT! Drilla gives Hiromu the DRILLA KILLA! Gabe hits Takagi with a PILEDRIVER! Drilla gets to hold on to the shillelagh so he can JAM Hiromu! Finlay gives Tsuji the OVERKILL!! The War Dogs stand tall over LIJ, but Finlay still gets the mic to talk.
“What have I been telling you people? I AM the Savage King! You all thought you saw cracks in my game, but that’s because I let you. You all thought you saw weakness in my War Dogs, but that’s because I let you. Time and time again, I have been steps ahead of everyone in this company. Time and time again, I have solved any problem that was put in our way. The only thing worse than fighting a man who knows how to hurt you is fighting a man who knows when. LIJ learned that tonight, didn’t they?” A young fan tells Finlay to shut up and the fans cheer the kid.
Finlay says you can strip him of championships, you can keep him from tournaments, but in the end, remember this: “HATE always finds a way!!” The Rebel has spoken, will he and his hateful War Dogs find a way to dominate all of NJPW whether we like it or not?
My Thoughts:
A great event for the Road to Wrestling Dontaku series. Great Six Man title match with Tanahashi’s team winning again, probably no more shots for House of Torture. Not really sure what House of Torture is supposed to do next, though. We’re seeing Narita go after Moxley and the IWGP World title, Jack Perry is technically back in AEW, Evil and Yujiro could try for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles but you know they’d lose to Bishamon. I’ve been thinking that House of Torture should join Jack in AEW for this stretch until Forbidden Door, have some interactions with The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada or something like that.
Really fun Best of 5 series, and it was hilarious that Yota beat Gedo so easily. Great wins for Gabe and Takagi going into their NEVER Openweight Championship match. For a moment, I thought LIJ was winning, given how badly the War Dogs beat up Naito with the help of their new pal, Jake Lee, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and a big name in Pro-Wrestling NOAH. But then in the end, Finlay found a way to win against Hiromu, keeping him strong as he probably moves up from midcard titles to world title. If we go by the math, Takagi should win the NEVER Openweight title match, but it’d feed Gabe’s story better if he did get the title.
As for Hiromu, he probably gets a strong showing in Best of the Super Juniors, but since his streak of tournament championships was broken, who knows if he gets another one or if he puts someone else over.
My Score: 8.8/10
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