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Mitchell’s NJPW G1 Climax 32 Results & Report! (8/2/22)

Rebel VS Kingpin!

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NJPW G1 Climax 32

Will Will Ospreay finally get the US Championship belt back?

Will Ospreay has been IWGP US Champion this entire G1 Climax, but he finally gets a chance to get the literal belt itself! Will he finally be the Two Belts Kingpin? Or will David Finlay deny him the gold that’s rightfully his?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Bad Dude Tito & JONAH VS Aaron Henare & Jeff Cobb; Henare & Cobb win.
  • 8 Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
  • Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
  • Six Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & YOSHI-HASHI VS Bullet Club; Okada, Tanahashi & Hashi win.
  • G1 Climax, B Block: Tomohiro Ishii VS Great-O-Khan; Khan wins.
  • G1 Climax, A Block: Toru Yano VS Tom Lawlor; Lawlor wins.
  • G1 Climax, B Block: Tama Tonga VS SANADA; Tama wins.
  • G1 Climax, C Block: Hirooki Goto VS KENTA; Kenta wins.
  • G1 Climax, D Block: David Finlay VS Will Ospreay; Finlay wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current standings!

A Block

  • Kazuchika Okada: 3-0, 6 points
  • Jeff Cobb: 2-1, 4 points
  • Bad Luck Fale: 2-2, 4 points
  • Toru Yano: 1-2, 2 points
  • JONAH: 1-1, 2 points
  • Lance Archer: 1-2, 2 points
  • Tom Lawlor: 0-2, 0 points

B Block

  • Jay White: 3-0, 6 points
  • SANADA: 2-1, 4 points
  • Taichi: 1-1, 2 points
  • Tama Tonga: 1-1, 2 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii: 1-2, 2 points
  • Chase Owens: 1-2, 2 points
  • Great-O-Khan: 0-2, 0 points

C Block

  • Hirooki Goto: 2-0, 4 points
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi: 2-1, 4 points
  • Zack Sabre Jr: 2-1, 4 points
  • Aaron Henare: 1-2, 2 points
  • Tetsuya Naito: 1-2, 2 points
  • EVIL: 1-1, 2 points
  • KENTA: 0-2, 0 points

D Block

  • Will Ospreay: 2-0, 4 points
  • David Finlay: 2-1, 4 points
  • Shingo Takagi: 1-2, 2 points
  • YOSHI-HASHI: 1-1, 2 points
  • Juice Robinson: 1-2, 2 points
  • El Phantasmo: 1-1, 2 points
  • Yujiro Takahashi: 1-2, 2 points

 

G1 Climax, B Block: Tomohiro Ishii VS Great-O-Khan!

The Stone Pitbull is 1-2, which is better than the Dominator’s 0-2, but both men are on the bubble! Will Ishii end Khan’s chances of taking the block? Or will it be the other way around as Khan eliminates Ishii?

The bell rings and fans rally up as the two feel out the grapple. Khan reels Ishii into a monkey flip, and he gets the ARMBAR! Ishii fights and gets the ROPEBREAK! Khan lets go quickly and fans applaud that opening exchange. Ishii shakes out the arm while fans rally again. Ishii and Khan circle, feel out another grapple, and Khan cording holds to then go for a leg. Khan forces Ishii down, pushes for a cover but Ishii keeps moving around. Khan floats for a headlock but Ishii slips out. Fans applaud again as the two reset. They tie up, Ishii shoots in for a leg but Khan holds him back. Khan gets around to a waistlock but Ishii switches.

Khan switches back, pushes to a cover, TWO! Khan stays on Ishii and floats around to get Ishii’s arm for a top wristlock. Ishii fights up and rolls around, Khan gets a cover but Ishii slips out to a facelock. Ishii then floats to a waistlock but Khan wrenches free. Khan drags Ishii down for a FUJIWARA ARMBAR, but Ishii reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Fans applaud and Khan lets off quickly again. Khan waits on Ishii and Ishii gets back up. They go again, Khan shoots in and puts Ishii on the ropes. They end up in a corner, the ref counts, Khan lets off slowly. Ishii SLAPS Khan! Fans fire up as Khan fires forearms!

Khan whips corner to corner, but Ishii comes back to RAM Khan! Khan stays up, he runs, but Ishii ROCKS him! Ishii runs to run Khan over! Fans applaud as Ishii stands tall. Ishii slaps Khan around, then CHOPS him. Khan shakes his head so Ishii CHOPS again. And again! Khan falls against ropes as Ishii mockingly asks what’s wrong. Ishii whips, Khan reverses but Ishii holds ropes to stop himself. Khan runs in but Ishii boots him! Ishii runs in, gets around to a waistlock, but Khan switches. Ishii rolls to drag Khan down to a KNEEBAR! The Pitbull shows he can be technical as Khan endures and fans fire up!

Khan pushes back, stands up, and he gets Ishii for a KNEEBAR! Ishii fights to get around, and he gets a HEEL HOOK on Khan! Khan endures again and he fights up for a STANDING HEEL HOOK! Ishii rolls but Khan waistlocks and deadlifts! Ishii elbows free but Khan runs him over! Fans fire up as both men are down! Fans rally while Khan shakes out his leg and Ishii shakes out his arm. Khan stands first, hobbles his way over and Mongolian Chops Ishii! And again! And then again, but Ishii blocks! Ishii ROCKS Khan but Khan scowls. Khan throws a forearm, Ishii gives it back, and fans rally as they go back and forth, faster and faster!

The forearms keep going and going, but Khan ROCKS Ishii! And then fires off a flurry! Ishii roars to ROCK Khan! Khan roars to ROCK Ishii! Ishii and Khan both roar, but Khan DECKS Ishii! The fans fire up and Khan fires up, too. Khan drags Ishii up, and Mongolian- NO, Ishii dodges! Ishii reels Khan in, but Khan snap suplexes first! Ishii roars and gets up to get around, but Khan slips out of the waistlock! Only for Ishii to snap suplex in return! Fans fire up as Khan rises, but Ishii SWATS the lariat! Khan SWATS Ishii’s lariat, but Ishii ROCKS Khan! Ishii runs in but into an arm-drag! But he’s right back with a FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE!

Khan SHOTGUNS Ishii! Ishii roars and rises, but Khan LARIATS him back down! Fans fire up as both men are down again! Khan gets to a corner while Ishii crawls to the adjacent. Fans rally up as Khan gets up and to the middle of the ring. Khan runs in to clothesline Ishii, then he SLAM DUNKS Ishii on the buckle! Then HITSUJIGOROSHI! Ishii endures the Sheep Killer clutch, and Khan scoops him! Ishii slips off, blocks the boot, and spins Khan around for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Khan sits up in a daze and gets to his feet, only for Ishii to LARIAT him back down! Fans fire up again as both men are on the mat!

Ishii crawls over to Khan and drags him around. Ishii sits Khan up and runs, but Khan BOOTS him down! Khan drags Ishii up to scoop, but Ishii slips off! Ishii dragon sleepers, Khan spins around but Ishii gest around for a DRAGON SUPLEX! Fans fire up again and Ishii roars! Ishii runs, to LARIAT Khan back down! Cover, TWO!! Khan is still in this and fans fire up again! Ishii keeps focus and brings Khan back up. Fans rally as Ishii reels Khan in. But Khan suplexes! Ishii fights that off, but Khan shoots around. Ishii elbows and PELES Khan down! Ishii sits Khan up, runs and SLIDING LARIATS! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous and Ishii vows to end this! Ishii drags Khan up, suplexes, but Khan fights it again! Khan wrenches to ROCK Ishii but Ishii HEADBUTTS! Khan HEADBUTTS, and Ishii drops to his knees! Khan roars, whips, and reels Ishii in to a BACKBREAKER! HITSUJIGOROSHI LUNA!! Ishii endures the backbreaker rack, and then Khan clamps on the IRON CLAW! ELIMIN- NO, Ishii slips out, spins Khan around, but Khan clamps on the CLAW! Ishii breaks free of that, but the HELL STAB hits! And then IRON- NO, Ishii dodges the fist to HEADBUTT! Ishii runs, but Khan swats the lariat! To scoop and TTD!!

But that’s not enough! IRON CLAW! And then ELIMINATOR!! Cover, Khan wins!!

Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Ishii earns 0)

Khan is finally on the board, and in the biggest way possible! His Eliminator eliminates Ishii from the running! Will Khan make a comeback in the homestretch of the G1?

 

G1 Climax, A Block: Toru Yano VS Tom Lawlor w/ Royce Isaacs!

The Clown Prince of Chaos got crushed by Bad Luck Fale while The Filthy One has been crushed back-to-back! Neither man is a monster, so there won’t be crushing, but who will still crush it in the second half of the G1?

Yano gets impatient with the check, but the bell rings and fans rally for “TOM! LAWLOR!” He spins and spins and off come the denim shorts! Yano covers his eyes, but it’s okay, Lawlor still has his pseudo-denim tights. Yano asks if it’s okay to look, the Young Lions say yes, and Yano opens his eyes. Yano and Lawlor circle, fans rally up, but Lawlor has Yano wait. Isaacs produces a copy of Whoopie Goldberg’s Sister Act on DVD! #1 three weeks in a row back in 1993! Is Lawlor offering a trade? Yano says no! What? Okay, hold on, Isaacs also has the sequel, Sister Act 2! Two for one is fair, right? Yano says okay!

Fans cheer the DVD trade, but wait! Lawlor opens the case and there’s NO DVD inside! Yano says sorry, that was his display copy. But thanks for the Sister Act 1 & 2! Fans rally up for “Y T R!” “SIS-TER ACT!” But Lawlor changes it back to “TOM! LAWLOR!” So Yano gets fans to clap again, “Y  T R!” But then we’re back to “TOM! LAW-LOR!” Yano grabs Lawlor by the hair, but it’s a WIG! Lawlor was looking a bit shaggier than before… And now Lawlor rolls Yano up! TWO!! Yano gets up, dodges Lawlor and rolls him up, TWO! Yano throws down the wig, Lawlor trips Yano! Yano uses amateur wrestling background to avoid the cover and get around Lawlor for a waistlock.

Lawlor rolls but Yano rolls with him to headscissor. Lawlor fights free, they scramble on the mat, high stack but Yano moves around. Lawlor gut wrenches then gets a leg! Yano gets the ROPEBREAK! Fans applaud the technical exchange and Lawlor lets Yano go. Lawlor runs in, Yano dodges and SLAPS him on the head! Lawlor snarls, Yano apologizes but kicks and TOSSES Lawlor out! Fans fire up as Yano spins around, to lower his tights! But he has a second pair of the exact same tights underneath. But Lawlor CLOBBERS Yano from behind! Lawlor stands on Yano’s neck while fans rally up.

Lawlor drags Yano up to cravat and KNEE! KNEE! KNEE! Lawlor fires off more knees, then snapmares Yano into a SHORT ARM SCISSOR! Yano endures and claws at the hold but Lawlor SLAPS his hands away! ARMBAR! Yano scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts and Lawlor lets Yano go again. Yano bails out and finishes taking off his top layer of tights. Lawlor spins, Isaacs takes off his sweat suit to reveal his purple ‘n’ gold plaid, and Lawlor takes off his tights?! Oh, he has a matching pair underneath, just like Yano. Team Filthy flexes and fans fire up. Lawlor fetches Yano, kicks him and forearms him, then whips. Yano reverses and Lawlor hits railing!

Isaacs creeps up but Yano kicks him and straps him to the railing with spare wrist tape! Lawlor CLUBS Yano, but leaves Isaacs to figure out the tape. Lawlor puts Yano in the ring and then takes back his Sister Act DVDs. Lawlor stomps Yano, drags him up, but Yano pulls Lawlor’s real hair! Lawlor elbows Yano, kicks Yano and whips Yano, but Yano reverses to throw Lawlor down! Fans fire up as Yano undoes the blue corner buckle pad! Yano rushes in but he dodges Lawlor, then throws him the buckle pad! Now Lawlor’s in trouble! Isaacs is free from the railing so Lawlor throws him the pad, but Yano kicks Lawlor.

Yano whips Lawlor at the blue corner! But Isaacs puts the pad back in place just in time! Lawlor is safe but Yano runs in, so the pad is taken away! Yano hits bare buckles! Lawlor covers, TWO!! Yano survives his own trap, but Lawlor drags him back up. Lawlor fires forearms, whips Yano to ropes, but Yano holds ropes to taunt Lawlor. Lawlor runs in but Yano dodges to clinch, BELLY2BELLY! Fans fire up as both men are down! Yano goes to his corner and undoes the red buckle pad! He throws that away to then whip Lawlor towards the blue corner. But that’s to fake Isaacs out, and he whips Lawlor into the red corner! Lawlor hits bare buckles!

Fans fire up while Lawlor hobbles. Yano shoves Lawlor into Isaacs, then rolls Lawlor up! TWO!! Fans fire up as Yano hurries to bring Lawlor up. But Lawlor JABS, JABS, JABS, then flips, flops and flies, to JAB again! Lawlor runs but Yano hits an atomic drop and a trip! To CATAPULT Lawlor into bare buckles!! Roll up, TWO!!! Lawlor survives but Yano gets him up again, ONI- NO, Lawlor fights the bomb off, then fires off KICKS! Yano falls but Lawlor whips him at the corner. Yano reverses and Lawlor hits bare buckles again! Fireman’s carry takeover, cover, TWO!! Lawlor swings but into arm hooks. Yano grabs the ref to distract from the LOW BLOW! Backslide, TWO!!!

Yano is upset with the ref and shoves him down! LOW BLOW! But it doesn’t hurt this time?! Yano tries again but it still doesn’t hurt! Lawlor gets Yano’s arms for a KAMI-GOYE! Into a straitjacket! NKOTB!! The Nasty Knee On The Brain!! Cover, Lawlor wins!

Winner: Tom Lawlor, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Yano earns 0)

The Filthy One gets one, and with that, Yano’s done! Oh and by the way, Lawlor was wearing a cup! Will Lawlor make sure A Block gets filthy in the final rounds?

 

G1 Climax, B Block: Tama Tonga w/ Jado VS SANADA!

The Good Bad Guy has been 50-50 in the G1, so he still has half a chance! Will he be in the black as he takes down the Cold Skull? Or will he be in the red after a Skull End?

The bell rings and fans rally as the two circle. They approach, tie up, and Sanada waistlocks. Tama standing switches, but Sanada wrenches out to wristlock. Tama spins and slips through to waistlock again, but Sanada pries at the hold. Tama goes for a headlock but Sanada turns that right into a hammerlock. Tama headlocks out of that and grinds the hold. Sanada steps on Tama’s leg to bring him to a knee, and Sanada slips out to get a headlock of his own. Sanada hits the takeover, Tama headscissors, but Sanada kips free. Fans applaud the standoff, and even Jado applauds. Fans rally up, “SA-NA-DA!” “GOOD BAD GUY!” as the two reset.

Sanada offers a handshake but Tama isn’t so sure. Fans rally up more and Tama figures why not. They shake hands but then Sanada trips Tama up! Tama kicks Sanada away then avoid the basement dropkick! Tama trips Sanada up but Sanada kicks him away now! Sanada rushes in but Tama arm-drags him! Then again! And dropkicks Sanada down! Fans fire up while Sanada bails out. The ring count starts as Sanada walks around and catches his breath. Fans rally, “SA-NA-DA!” “GOOD BAD GUY!” while Tama dares Sanada to come back. Sanada stays outside so Tama rushes out! Sanada slides in but Tama hurries after him!

Sanada runs in, Tama hurdles then comes back to sunset flip! Sanada rolls through, gets the legs and ties Tama up in PARADISE! Fans fire up while Tama is in the Paradise Lock and Sanada encourages them to get louder. They reach a satisfying volume, and Sanada dropkicks Tama out of Paradise! Cover, TWO! Sanada drags Tama up to CLUB him on the neck! Tama leans against ropes but Sanada CLUBS him again. Sanada brings Tama around to cravat and Tama endures the neck wrench. Sanada KNEES Tama down, then brings him up in the corner. Sanada whips corner to corner, run sin and back elbows! Then snap suplexes! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up, Sanada looms over Tama, and Sanada CLUBS Tama down! Tama shakes his head and eggs Sanada on. Sanada CLUBS him again but Tama gets up. Tama fires up and eggs Sanada on, and fans rally up behind Tama. Sanada fires off haymakers and a knee! Sanada whips Tama to the corner but Tama comes right back to LARIAT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Tama gets up while fans rally, and Tama waits on Sanada. Sanada stands, Tama rallies with clotheslines and elbows! Then he back suplexes, but Sanada fights it with a headlock! Sanada CLUBS away, runs, but Tama hurdles!

Sanada returns, Tama drops down then DROPKICKS! Fans fire up with Tama and he drags Sanada back up. Tama hits a BIG back suplex, then covers, TWO! Fans rally and Tama paces. Tama brings Sanada back up to CLUB him down, in return for earlier. Tama stomps Sanada, drags him up to CLUB him again, then HEADBUTTS him! Sanada wobbles, Tama HEADBUTTS again! Tama clamps on a SLEEPER, then a dragon sleeper! But Sanada fights it off to arm-drag! Tama UPPERCUTS Sanada and Sanada goes to ropes. Tama whips, Sanada reverses to hurdle, hurdle and DROPKICK in return! Fans fire up as Tama bails out, and Sanada PLANCHAS!

Fans fire up again and Sanada paces while the ring count starts. The count is 5 of 20, then 10 as Sanada returns to Tama. Fans rally as Sanada drags Tama up and puts him in at 15 of 20. Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool while fans rally up again. Sanada drags Tama up, fireman’s carries, but Tama fights free to waistlock. Tama shoves Sanada at a corner, runs in, but Sanada elbows him back! Sanada QUEBRADA, but Tama gets under! Tama runs in, into a fireman’s carry! But Tama slips off to TONGAN TWIST! Fans fire up again while both men are down. Tama and Sanada roll away to opposite corners and Jado coaches Tama up.

Tama runs corner to corner at Sanada but the splash hits buckles! Sanada back suplexes, Tama lands on his feet to fireman’s carry! S R C! Fans fire up and Tama goes up the corner! SUPREME FLOW! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives but OFF COMES THE VEST! Tama watches Sanada rise and he pounds the mat. Fans clap along, Sanada stands and Tama lunges in, GUN- NO, Sanada fights that off, follows and runs, tilt-o-whirl DRAGON SLEEPER! But Tama snapmares free! Sanada ducks the lariat to go up, out and springboard missile dropkick back in! Fans fire up and Sanada brings Tama up to a fireman’s carry! T K O! Cover, TWO!!

Sanada goes up, ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto knees! Tama saves himself just in time, to GUN- SKULL END!! Sanada used a similar counter as Ishii and now has Tama caught! Fans fire up as Tama endures, but the body scissors are in! Tama reaches out, moves around, and manages the ROPEBREAK! Fans applaud as Sanada lets Tama go. Fans rally up again as Sanada and Tama stir. Sanada stands, drags Tama up, and throws a forearm. Sanada hits Tama again and Jado coaches Tama up. Sanada throws another forearm and eggs Tama on. Tama throws fast hands! Sanada forearms, Tama forearms, and Tama eggs Sanada on now.

Sanada throws a forearm, Tama throws a forearm, and the two pace as they grit their teeth. The forearms keep going and fans rally up as they pick up speed! Tama gets the edge then UPPERCUTS Sanada! Sanada staggers, Tama reels him in but Sanada forearms and ROLLING- SUPER FOREARM from Tama! And VELENO! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and fans fire up! Tama is shocked, but he focuses as he watches Sanada rise. GUN- NO! Sanada blocks again, to the dragon sleeper! But Tama spins through! So Sanada suplexes! Tama slips out of that, TONGAN TWIST but Sanada handsprings through!

Sanada ROCKS Tama, Tama ENZIGURIS Sanada! GUN- NO, waistlock and O’Conner BRIDGE!! Cover, TWO!!! Tama escapes, to GUN STUN!! Cover, Tama wins!!

Winner: Tama Tonga, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Sanada earns 0)

Sanada couldn’t block them all, and all it takes is one! The Good Bad Guy is moving up the block, will he take over in the final rounds?

 

G1 Climax, C Block: Hirooki Goto VS KENTA!

The Fierce Warrior and The Worst Intruder Ever are practically opposites in this G1. Will Goto continue his undefeated streak while keeping Kenta winless? Or will Kenta turn things around as he makes Goto sleep?

The bell rings and fans rally up. The two circle, but then Kenta makes heart hands at Goto’s staff? Kenta and Goto tie up, Goto powers Kenta to ropes, and Kenta calls for the ropebreak. Goto pats Kenta’s shoulders as he lets off, but Kenta rakes the eyes! Kenta then powers Goto to a corner to bump him off buckles and fire body shots! Red Shoes counts but Kenta ROCKS Goto as he lets off. Kenta whips corner to corner but Goto comes back to run Kenta over!  Fans applaud while Goto brings Kenta up for a headlock and grinds him down. Kenta endures, powers up but can’t power out as Goto holds tight.

Goto hits a takeover but Kenta keeps his shoulders up. Kenta rolls Goto to a cover, ONE! Goto holds onto the headlock but Kenta fights up. Kenta pries the hold open but Goto wraps it on tighter. Kenta pulls hair and throws body shots to get free, then he wrenches and wristlocks Goto’s arm. Goto rolls, wrenches back and has a hammerlock. Goto puts more pressure, but Kenta gets to the ROPEBREAK! Kenta calls for the break, but Goto CLUBS him down! Goto whips Kenta to ropes, Kenta reverses but Goto counters hip toss with a hip toss! Kenta bails out and Goto dares him to come back.

Kenta paces around the way, lurks near the ring but Goto is watching him. Fans rally, but Kenta eyes Goto’s staff. Goto goes out to CLUB Kenta! Goto whips Kenta into railing! Kenta drops to his knees and Goto CLUBS him down. Goto SMACKS Kenta off the timekeeper’s table. Red Shoes goes out to tell Goto to get this in the ring. Kenta CLOBBERS Goto with the bell!! Kenta hides the evidence then rains down fists! Kenta drags Goto up, reels him in, DDT to the floor! Fans fire up and the ring count starts. Kenta drags Goto up at 4 of 20, brings him around and puts him in the ring at 10. Fans applaud as Kenta wants to finish this in the ring.

Kenta makes more heart hands at the staff, then he stomps Goto down. Kenta drops knee after knee on Goto’s head, then covers. ONE, but Kenta clamps on a chinlock. Goto endures as Kenta grinds him down. Goto fights around and gets the ROPEBREAK! Kenta lets off, to KICK Goto in the arm! Kenta drags Goto up, whips him to ropes, and elbow him down! Cover, TWO! Kenta keeps on Goto with a KICK to the back! Fans rally and Kenta claps along as he steps on Goto. Kenta gets the pace to speed up, and then tells them to stop. Kenta stomps Goto, slaps him around, and taunts Goto. Goto throws a palm strike but Kenta drop toeholds!

Kenta rains down fists on Goto’s head! Red Shoes reprimands but Kenta swears he was using opened palms. Kenta clamps on a chinlock again and he grinds Goto down. Fans rally up, Goto fights up and throws elbows, but Kenta throws him down by his hair! Kenta paces around Goto, kicks at him, and taunts him, too. Goto snarls and gets up but Kenta KICKS him in the chest! Goto growls, Kenta KICKS, so Goto CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Kenta knees low, SOBATS high, and Goto ends up in a corner. Kenta runs in to BOOT! Goto staggers, Kenta runs, but Goto follows! Kenta ducks the lariat, Goto deflects the boot to DISCUS LARIAT!

Fans fire up while both men are down. Goto rises and he has Kenta in a corner. Goto fires off forearms, whips corner to corner, then runs in to MURAMASA! And then BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Goto keeps focus while the fans fire up. Goto drags Kenta up but Kenta blocks the fireman’s carry. Kenta throws elbows, then a BOOT! Kenta runs but Goto tosses him outside! Kenta lands on the apron but Goto ROCKS him! Goto runs in to ROCK Kenta again! Kenta wobbles, Goto runs in again but into a shoulder! Kenta stands Goto up and wants to suplex to the outside! Goto holds onto ropes and fans rally as Kenta keeps trying!

Goto suplexes Kenta up instead! Kenta slips off but Goto elbows him. Goto runs, Kenta follows, Goto dodges but Kenta POWERSLAMS! Fans fire up and Kenta goes to a corner. Kenta climbs, Goto stands, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but Kenta clamps on an STF! Goto endures, moves around, but Kenta pulls back on the crossface! Goto keeps dragging himself and Kenta along, and fans rally up! Goto reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Kenta lets off quickly, and he KICKS Goto in the back. Kenta puts Goto on the apron to stomp him on the apron! Kenta then drags Goto up and brings him around. But Goto fires off body shots!

Goto shoulders in but misses, and Kenta KICKS him! Kenta drags Goto out, BRAINKILLER! Fans fire up after the draping DDT, and Kenta slithers back as Goto goes to the corner. Kenta runs corner to corner, to BOOT Goto down! Then again, for the HESITATION DROPKICK! Fans fire up and Kenta hurries out to the apron. Kenta climbs up the corner, COUP DE- NO, Goto avoids the stomps, but Kenta BOOTS him! LARIATS! But Goto stays up! Kenta swings, into Goto’s clinch, URA G T R! And then a LARIAT!! Both men are down and fans rally up again! Goto rises, roars and he brings Kenta in, only for Kenta to ROCK him with a forearm!

Goto ROCKS Kenta back, so Kenta ROCKS Goto again! Goto throws a forearm, Kenta returns it, and fans rally up as they go back and forth! Kenta gets the edge, fires boxing elbows, but Goto HEADBUTTS! Fans fire up while Kenta drops! Goto growls and fires up, and he powers up the BUZZSAW!! Goto then drags Kenta up to the fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Kenta survives but fans fire up! Goto drags Kenta up, reels him back in for the dragon sleeper, but Kenta slips out! Kenta shoves Goto at Red Shoes! Goto stops himself, but then Kenta CLOBBERS Goto into Red Shoes! Down goes the ref, and Kenta brings Goto around, DDT!

Kenta hurries to Goto’s corner, and he grabs the staff! Fans rally as Kenta brings the staff into the ring. Kenta pets it then swings, but Goto blocks the staff strike! They fight for control, Goto kicks and THROWS Kenta away! Goto holds up his staff, but then Kenta has Red Shoes see what Goto’s doing! Goto tries to explain, but he still throws the staff away. Kenta then blocks Red Shoes’ view of the LOW BLOW! Kenta throws Goto back into Red Shoes! Kenta then grabs Goto’s staff! Fans rally while Kenta pets the staff again. Kenta aims, but Goto sends Kenta into the corner! Goto has Kenta draping out, but Kenta SMACKS Goto with the staff!!

Goto lets Kenta go, but Kenta also falls onto the mat. Fans fire up while everyone is down, but Kenta gets the staff again. Kenta uses the staff to stand, and he aims at Goto again. STAFF STRIKE!! Kenta gets the staff out of the ring, shouts for Red Shoes, and he gets Red Shoes in the ring. Kenta hurries to a corner and climbs up top. COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, TWO!?! Goto survives and Kenta can’t believe it! But Kenta slashes his throat, vowing to end this! Kenta fireman’s carries, GO TO- NO, Goto blocks the leg! Kenta SWATS away on Goto’s face, and then again and again, but Goto ducks to fireman’s carry! G Y- KNEE!!

Kenta hurries to aim from a corner while Goto staggers! Fans fire up, Kenta runs in, BUSAIKU KNEE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Goto survives again and Kenta is furious! Kenta hurries to fireman’s carry, for GO TO- NO, Goto lands on his feet, but falls over! Kenta resets, GO TO SLEEP!!! Cover, Kenta wins!!

Winner: Kenta, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Goto earns 0)

The Fierce Warrior’s first loss is Kenta’s first win! Will this cause C Block to turn upside-down? Or is there still time for Goto to secure a spot in the semifinals?

 

G1 Climax, D Block: David Finlay VS Will Ospreay!

The Rebel has had two shockers in a row, slaying The Dragon and breaking Rock Hard! Now Finlay is in physical possession of the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship! But we all know that belt rightfully belongs to the Commonwealth Kingpin. Will Ospreay conquer this rebel and finally get that belt back? Or will there be another shocker this deep into the biggest G1 Climax ever?

As Finlay makes his entrance, he sets down the IWGP US Championship in the middle of the ring. And during Ospreay’s entrance, Ospreay drops his Rev-Pro British Heavyweight belt at the ramp to get in the ring and in Finlay’s face! Red Shoes has them back up for the introductions to finish. Ospreay picks up HIS US belt, but Finlay grabs at it, too. Red Shoes also grabs at the belt, but Finlay and Ospreay both shove him away! Ospreay and Finlay start throwing forearms! Fans fire up as the bell rings and the forearms keep going! This is fast and furious! Ospreay ROCKS Finlay, winds up, but Finlay dodges to clothesline Ospreay up and out!

Finlay goes out to knee Ospreay low, then throat chop him against railing! Finlay wrenches an arm to an ELBOW BREAKER! Ospreay staggers away, Finlay pursues, but Ospreay CHOPS him! And ROCKS him! Finlay kicks low, SMACKS Ospreay off the apron, and Ospreay staggers away again. Finlay RAMS Ospreay into railing, right in front of commentary! Finlay stands Ospreay up to EuroUpper, and then he puts Ospreay in the ring. Finlay gets in and he drags Ospreay up to snap suplex! Cover, ONE!! Fans rally while Finlay drags Ospreay back up. Finlay snapmares, runs and BASEMENT UPPERCUTS! Cover, ONE!!

Finlay stomps Ospreay’s left hand, then stomps his left foot. Finlay brings Ospreay up to EuroUpper again, then runs in at the corner. Ospreay dodges, runs in but into an elbow! Finlay goes up top, Ospreay CHOPS him down! Finlay tumbles out to the floor while fans fire up! The ring count starts, but Ospreay goes out after Finlay. Ospreay drags Finlay up to whip him hard into railing! Finlay drops to his knees, but Ospreay drags Finlay up to bring around. Ospreay hits an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Fans fire up while Finlay writhes. Ospreay pushes Finlay into the ring, but Finlay throws body shots in return. Ospreay HEADBUTTS Finlay down!

Ospreay paces, drags Finlay up, and scoops to SLAM him down! Ospreay drops a knee right onto Finlay’s chin! Ospreay digs the knee into Finlay’s neck and insists on a count, but Red Shoes says no, that’s a choke. Ospreay lets off, drags Finlay back up, and bumps Finlay off buckles. Ospreay keeps Finlay cornered to CHOP him! Fans applaud while Finlay is stinging. Ospreay snapmares Finlay, omoplatas the arm, and he reaches for the other. Finlay resists but Ospreay still gets the arm to make it a RECLINER! Finlay endures and it becomes a cover, ONE!! Finlay gets free and Ospreay is annoyed. Ospreay gives toying knees against the ropes.

Finlay shoves back, Ospreay KICKS him! Finlay SPITS at Ospreay so Ospreay stomps away! Red Shoes has Ospreay let off, and Ospreay stands on Finlay. Ospreay SPITS at Finlay, but Red Shoes has him step away. Fans rally as Ospreay stands Finlay up. Finlay fires off forearms and EuroUppers, but Ospreay EuroUppers back. Finlay staggers away to ropes, but Ospreay wrenches and whips. Finlay reverses but Ospreay catches him to a Cobra Twist! Finlay endures but Ospreay cranks on the hold. Finlay powers out with a HIP TOSS! Fans fire up and Finlay fires forearms on Ospreay! Ospreay knees low, runs, but into a back drop!

Fans fire up and Finlay rallies on Ospreay with forearm smashes! Finlay whips, Ospreay reverses but Finlay FLYING FOREARMS! Fans fire up more as Finlay hits a HEAD BUSTER! Ospreay staggers to a corner, Finlay runs in corner to corner to EuroUpper! Finlay goes up, FLYING EUROUPPER! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is still in this but Finlay keeps cool. Ospreay throws body shots from below, but Finlay headbutts Ospreay over and over in return! Ospreay gets the ROPEBREAK and Finlay lets off in a huff. Finlay drags Ospreay up, clinches, but Ospreay squats to block. Ospreay throws elbows but Finlay throws knees!

Finlay hoists Ospreay up but Ospreay slips out, only for Finlay to elbow him away. Ospreay ducks the chop to handspring and NEURALIZER! Finlay tumbles out of the ring while fans fire up. Ospreay aims to PLANCHA! Direct hit and down goes Finlay! Fans fire up while both men are down on the outside, and Red Shoes checks on them. They’re okay to continue and Ospreay stands up. The ring count starts, Ospreay drags Finlay up at 4 of 20. Ospreay puts Finlay in at 6, then aims from the apron. Springboard, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay calls his shot and fans fire up now. Ospreay prepares the elbow pad but drags Finlay up.

Ospreay reels Finlay in, turns him, but Finlay catches Dream Smasher into a clinch! IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Fans fire up while Ospreay writhes! Finlay clutches his knee, that was a bit double-edged. Finlay grits his teeth as he and Ospreay go to opposite corners. Fans rally, Finlay runs in, BIG EuroUpper in the corner! Finlay stomps a mudhole into Ospreay, then digs in until Ospreay’s hanging out of the ropes! Red Shoes backs Finlay off but fans fire up. Finlay storms back up to Ospreay, brings him up and suplexes him to the top rope. Finlay climbs up, HEADBUTTS, but Ospreay HEADBUTTS!

Fans fire up as the forearms fly again! Finlay gets the edge, he fires up while Ospreay wobbles, and Finlay brings Ospreay up. Ospreay fights back with body shots, then the SUPER GOURD BUSTER! Finlay is down in the drop zone, and Ospreay wants him to get up. Fans fire up as Ospreay adjusts, but Finlay trips him up! Fans rally again as Finlay climbs up after Ospreay. Finlay gets Ospreay up to SUPERPLEX!! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up as Ospreay survives and Finlay focuses. Finlay fires up, cravats, ACID- NO, Ospreay throws Finlay to the apron! Finlay throws forearms in return, but Ospreay GAMANGIRIS!

Finlay wobbles, Ospreay goes up and out to APRON OSCUTTER!! Fans are thunderous while both men are down on the outside! Red Shoes checks them both again but somehow they’re okay to continue. Fans rally up, the ring count starts, but it’s already 5 of 20 before either stirs. Ospreay stands at 8, but decides to ditch Finlay. The count is 12 of 20, Ospreay already feels he’s won. Finlay stirs at 15, drags himself up at 16, and stands at 18, but flounders his way in, 19.9!! SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but Ospreay fires up! Ospreay calls his shot, springboards again, OS- NO!! Finlay blocks!

Finlay spins Ospreay but Ospreay swats the lariat to ROLLING ELBOW! Springboards, OSCUTTER!! But Ospreay has to crawl to the cover! TWO!!! Finlay survives and shocks Ospreay! Fans rally up and Ospreay aims from a corner. The elbow pad is ready, HIDDEN- NO, Finlay ducks to PRIMA- NO, Ospreay HOOK KICK! Springboard, into PRIMA NOCTA!! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay survives and Finlay is roaring in anger! But fans are thunderous as he cravats, ACID DROP!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ospreay survives and Finlay is beside himself! Fans are thunderous again as Finlay grits his teeth and gets back up.

Finlay roars and slashes his throat, then brings Ospreay up. Suplex, TRASH- NO, Ospreay slips free to HOOK KICK! Finlay staggers, but he comes back with a LARIAT! Finlay falls on the cover, TWO, and into a ghost pin!! TWO!!! Finlay escapes, but Ospreay V-TRIGGERS!! WHAT?! HIDDEN- NO, Finlay ducks and he backslides Ospreay, TWO, but into deadlift TRASH PANDA!!! Cover, FINLAY WINS!!!!

Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Ospreay earns 0)

A third straight shocker in a row!! Shingo Takagi, Juice Robinson, and now Will Ospreay! Ospreay falls out of first place, can the Kingpin make a comeback?

As for Finlay, he grabs the IWGP US Championship belt back, and then gets a mic. “Ospreay, Ospreay. I don’t care where, I don’t care when, but the next time you defend this championship, you defend it against ME!” Finlay then throws the belt back at Ospreay, and tells him that until then, every time Ospreay looks at that belt, every time he picks it up, every time he puts it on, he has to remember that he is holding onto Finlay’s title! Fans applaud that sentiment. Finlay then says, “Did anybody think that I was gong to beat Juice Robinson? Maybe. Did anybody think that I was going to beat Shingo Takagi? Probably not.

“Did anybody think that I was gonna beat Billy Goat, Will Ospreay? HELL NO! Yet here I am, leading the D Block with six points! So do you believe me now when I say that this is my year? Do you believe me now when I say this is my time? Do you believe me now when I say I am winning the G1 Climax? Because this IS my year, this IS my time, and I am winning the whole damn thing! So expect me!!” Finlay is all fired up and so is this block! Will Finlay make sure 2022 becomes the Year of the Rebel?

 

Here are the NEW standings!

A Block

  • Kazuchika Okada: 3-0, 6 points
  • Jeff Cobb: 2-1, 4 points
  • Bad Luck Fale: 2-2, 4 points
  • JONAH: 1-1, 2 points
  • Lance Archer: 1-2, 2 points
  • Tom Lawlor: 1-2, 2 points
  • Toru Yano: 1-3, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

B Block

  • Jay White: 3-0, 6 points
  • Tama Tonga: 2-1, 4 points
  • SANADA: 2-2, 4 points
  • Taichi: 1-1, 2 points
  • Great-O-Khan: 1-2, 2 points
  • Chase Owens: 1-2, 2 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii: 1-3, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

C Block

  • Hirooki Goto: 2-1, 4 points
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi: 2-1, 4 points
  • Zack Sabre Jr: 2-1, 4 points
  • Aaron Henare: 1-2, 2 points
  • Tetsuya Naito: 1-2, 2 points
  • EVIL: 1-1, 2 points
  • KENTA: 1-2, 2 points

D Block

  • David Finlay: 3-1, 6 points
  • Will Ospreay: 2-1, 4 points
  • Shingo Takagi: 1-2, 2 points
  • YOSHI-HASHI: 1-1, 2 points
  • Juice Robinson: 1-2, 2 points
  • El Phantasmo: 1-1, 2 points
  • Yujiro Takahashi: 1-2, 2 points

My Thoughts:

A great event as the G1 Climax continues! Great stuff out of Khan VS Ishii, and hilarious stuff out of Yano VS Lawlor. I didn’t think both Ishii and Yano would fall on the same day, and then fall out of the running, but now the Pitbull and the Producer will just have to settle for being spoilers in their blocks. Though chances are, that’s the same role Khan and Lawlor will be filling as they’re still lagging behind the front of the pack. A great match out of Tama VS Sanada, and a rather surprising finish with Tama getting the win. But it seems Tama is making the big push in his singles career, and at some point, he is going to take on Jay White, so he’ll need all the momentum he can get against the Switchblade.

A great match out of Goto and Kenta with not only the story of their block rankings adding drama, but apparently Kenta has a new obsession in Goto’s special staff. Kenta gets the win to really shake things up, which you definitely want this deep into the tournament. And in another awesome match, Finlay gets another wild shocker of a win. His promo pretty much puts it into words: most didn’t expect Finlay getting far, and yet he is the D Block leader. The US Championship story continues to grow in complexity, that is big for NJPW as they are still pushing for a presence in the US fandom, and this also shakes things up in the D Block to where anything can happen.

My Score: 8.8/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

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

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

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

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

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

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

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

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Nia Jax speaks.

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

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

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

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

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

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

on

We’re just one step away from the Cup!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

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

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

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

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

No Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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