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Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (8/15/22)

A PHENOMENAL first-time-ever!

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WWE Raw 2022

Will the United States Champion still be All Mighty?

For the first time one-on-one, Bobby Lashley takes on AJ Styles, and for the WWE United States Championship! Will the All Mighty prove he’s even more phenomenal than the Phenomenal One?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Vacated WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Nikki A.S.H. & “Doudrop” Piper Niven VS Alexa Bliss & Asuka; Bliss & Asuka win and advance.
  • The Miz & Tommaso Ciampa VS Cedric Alexander & Mustafa Ali; The Miz & Ciampa win.
  • Drew McIntyre VS Kevin Owens; McIntyre wins, by disqualification.
  • Veer Mahaan VS Beaux Keller; Veer wins.
  • WWE United States Championship: Bobby Lashley VS AJ Styles; Lashley wins and retains the title.
  • Dakota Kai w/ Iyo Sky & Bayley VS Dana Brooke; Kai wins.
  • (Austin) Theory VS Dolph Ziggler; Theory wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Judgement Day is here!

Finn Balor, Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley are in Washington D.C. and headed to the ring! And they’re feeling great after what they did to Rey & Dominik Mysterio just last week. They all get mics while fans boo, but Rhea says, “The Judgement Day… We run Monday Night Raw. And that’s been the harsh reality to the Mysterios week in and week out. I even proved to Dominik Mysterio that I really am his Papi, haha, as I destroyed his soul!” Finn says everyone loves the Mysterios! But do they even know why? No! But then to those fans, Finn has some sad news: The Mysterios will NOT be here tonight.

And why is that? Because just like Rhea said, poor little Dom had his soul crushed! And Rey was destroyed by Finn in the middle of the ring, 1-2-3, to further solidify Finn’s already legendary status in this business! But enough about last week, here’s what Priest will do to Edge next week. “What won’t I do to Edge next week? But let me ask you all a question: Do you not wanna see Edge confront the Judgement Day right now?” DC says yes! Do they wanna see the Rated R Superstar right now? Yes! Too bad! He ain’t here! HA! No, no. Edge is out in Toronto, doing his “duties” promoting this match. Edge’s first match in Toronto in over a decade!

Priest tells Edge the he heard everything Edge said. Priest doesn’t need the Judgement Day ringside. He doesn’t sweat Edge! He doesn’t need anyone to deal with Edge! That is where Priest puts the final nail in the coffin of Edge’s career! There will be no Finn, no Rhea, just Priest VS Edge, 1v1, man to man, no Judgement Day! And then Toronto will no longer be Edge’s hometown. It’ll be the place where Damian Priest sent Edge back into retirement! Oh, the fans don’t like that, huh? Bye-bye, Edge! And this time it won’t be about filming TV shows or crap movies. It’ll be Beth wheeling Edge around and feeding him through a tube for the rest of his life!

But then REY dropkicks Priest from behind! And throws hands on Finn! Finn shoves Rey but Rey RANAS him out! Then BLASTS Priest out! But then Rhea steps to him! Rhea dares Rey to hit her, but Rey keeps control. But then Finn gets in with a chair! Rey SHOTGUNS Finn first! And then JAMS Finn and SMACKS Finn with the chair! And then the same for Priest! Fans fire up for Rey as he raises the chair, but Rhea shields Finn! Then she snatches the chair! Priest BOOTS Rey down! Priest KICKS Rey, rains down fists, and fans boo! But Priest drags Rey up, feeds him to Rhea, DDT to the chair!! Then Priest rains down fists!

Rhea tells this is what happens when Dom holds you back! Priest puts the chair on Rey’s chest! Finn is up top, COUP DE GRACE with the chair!! Finn sits on Rey after having crushed him! Will the Judgement Day destroy Edge just like they have Dom and Rey?

 

Vacated WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Nikki A.S.H. & “Doudrop” Piper Niven VS Alexa Bliss & Asuka!

This Celtic Connection of Almost SuperHero and Scottish Viper has been waiting for their opportunity to grab some gold together. As for the Five Foot Fury and the Empress of Tomorrow, they’ve each held the tag titles before, just with other partners. Who takes the crucial first step towards the gold and meets Kai & Sky next round?

But before the action gets going, the RawEST Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair, makes her way out to ringside! She’s going to be a teammate to Alexa & Asuka at Clash at the Castle against “The Control,” Bayley, Kai & Sky, so she’s here to cheer her allies on. Nikki & Piper then make their entrances, Nikki now sporting a leather jacket to match Piper’s. The teams then sort out and Asuka starts against Nikki. Asuka rushes in but Nikki throws her down! Nikki rains down forearms on Asuka then strikes a pose. Fans boo but Nikki stomps Asuka down. Nikki drags Asuka up, whips her but Asuka reverses and pop-up KNEES!

Nikki wobbles, Alexa tags in and she runs Nikki over! Piper gets in, Alexa & Asuka DOUBLE SHOTGUN her out! Then they both HIP ATTACK Nikki & Piper off the apron! High-five and fans fire up while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Nikki thrashes Alexa around in a straitjacket stretch! Fans rally up, Alexa fights up, but Nikki keeps her down by digging a knee in. Fans still rally and Alexa fights her way up again, getting her arms free to hit a JAWBREAKER! Piper tags in and drags Alexa away. But Alexa kicks Piper into Nikki! Hot tag to Asuka! Asuka goes up to missile dropkick Piper down! Fans fire up with Asuka and she dodges Nikki to DECK Piper! Asuka elbows Nikki, ROUNDHOUSES her, then hits a RUNNING NECKBREAKER! Asuka runs in at the corner to HIP ATTACK, then she waistlocks.

Nikki fights the suplex but Asuka BAKCHANDS, BACKHANDS, SOBATS, KICKS and BACKHANDS! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Nikki survives but Asuka sits Nikki up to KICK, KICK and run! Piper swipes at Asuka but Asuka BOOTS her! Nikki gets Asuka for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Nikki is furious but fans fire up! Nikki goes to ropes, DECKS Alexa, then rushes back to get Asuka! Nikki whips her to a corner and Piper whips her in! Asuka puts Nikki on the apron, elbows Piper but Nikki shoulders in! Nikki climbs to CROSSBODY! Cover, Alexa breaks it with a dropkick! Piper CROSSBODIES Alexa!

Fans fire up while Dana Brooke & Tamina watch backstage. They lost last week, so what’re they hoping from this? Piper drags Nikki to her corner to tag back in! Piper storms up on Asuka, drags her up and scoops, but Asuka fights free! BACKHAND! Piper goes down, Asuka HIP ATTACKS Nikki away! Asuka comes back but into Piper’s scoop! MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Asuka survives and DC is thunderous! Piper drags Asuka to a drop zone and she goes up the corner! VADER BOMB FLOPS as Asuka moves! Asuka drags herself up to her feet, Piper runs in but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Asuka runs Alexa tags, SLIDING KICK to a DDT!

Alexa hurries to tag Asuka back and she hits a CODE BREAKER! Oklahoma Roll, into an ARMBAR!! And Alexa intercepts Nikki with a RIGHT HAND! Piper taps, Asuka & Alexa win!

Winners: Alexa Bliss & Asuka, by submission (advance to the next round)

They may seem like an unlikely duo, but they just made it work here! And we get a Clash at the Castle preview within the tournament, will- Wait. Bayley and her team are waiting on the stage! They all applaud sarcastically and then talk some trash with Bianca, Asuka & Alexa. Refs and officials rush out already to stop this from blowing up again! Fans want to “Let Them Fight!” but will we just have to wait until next time?

 

Backstage interview with (Austin) Theory!

The Youngest Mr. Money in the Bank is back after the… less than successful attempt to cash-in at SummerSlam. Uh, well, he still has the briefcase, doesn’t he? And he’s still the Youngest WWE United States Champion Ever, and the handpicked future of the business! He may have made some miscalculations, but he doesn’t make mistakes. He is tougher because of that, wiser because of that, and he’s more dangerous because of that. Next time he- Dolph Ziggler walks in to say, “The next time? Kid, I’ve been watching you. You got crushed out there. Brock, Roman, you name it! And I get it, I’ve been there, too.”

But there’s a difference between the two of them. See, the MITB contract was never handed to Ziggler. He earned it. That is why it mattered when he cashed in and became World Heavyweight Champion! Well, that’s interesting. Ziggler was Mr. MITB, he was a world champion. And that’s great, really. But he won’t be around when Theory cashes in, and because of that, Theory thinks Ziggler’s nothing more than “an over the hill, title having has-been.” But Theory suggests Ziggler keeps paying attention to Mr. All Day. Because when Theory cashes in successfully, he’ll just keep winning and winning and winning. And he won’t screw up like Ziggler did!

Oh, didn’t like that, huh? But then Ziggler PUNCHES Theory! They brawl, and end up hitting the cameraman! Will these two have to settle this thing in the ring?

Raw shares footage of the brawl during the break, and they ended up deep in the arena! Officials rushed in to stop this, but… Who’s arm is that slipping in through the door?

 

Backstage interview with The Miz & Tommaso Ciampa.

Sarah says after an amazing performance against Bobby Lashley, where he came so close to winning the United States Championship, where does Ciampa see himself going next? Ciampa says he did get really close. Unfortunately, there are no participation trophies here. Ciampa came to Raw to become a champion, so the next time he gets an opportunity, that is what he is going to do. The Miz says to be honest, the only reason Ciampa didn’t win is because Styles interfered! And how is Styles repaid? He’s given a US Championship match tonight! That’s collusion!

But Miz will reward Ciampa for his valiant effort with a token of appreciation. Miz made his own custom polaroid NFT necklace. He and Ciampa have a matching pair! This is awesome! “No, we are AWWWWWESOOOOME!” The Hollywood A-Lister and his Guardian Psycho now head to the ring. Will they start on the road to tag title opportunities together? Or will they end up a stepping stone for their opponents?

The Miz & Tommaso Ciampa VS Cedric Alexander & Mustafa Ali!

The teams sort out and Alexander starts against Ciampa. They tie up, go around, and Ciampa pulls Alexander’s hair to put him on ropes. The ref counts., Ciampa lets off, and Alexander gets away. They tie up again, Ciampa headlocks, but Alexander powers out. Ciampa pulls hair to reel Alexander back in! Fans taunt Miz over his “TINY BALLS!” but Ciampa snapmares into a chinlock. Alexander slips out, hammerlocks an arm, and he leans on the hold. Ciampa fights up, reaches back to snapmare free, but Alexander slips out of the chinlock again! Alexander has the hammerlock, talks some smack on Miz, but Ciampa fights up.

Ciampa throws a hard elbow, then he clamps on the headlock for a takeover. Alexander keeps his shoulders up, fights up, and fans rally. Alexander powers up and out, but Ciampa runs him over! Things speed up, Ciampa slides under the hurdle but Alexander rolls off the back drop to DROPKICK Ciampa down! Tag to Ali, Alexander trips Ciampa for Ali’s slingshot senton! Tag back to Alexander and he slingshot sentons! Cover, TWO! Alexander drags Ciampa up, CHOPS him against ropes, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa reverses but Alexander kicks back! But Miz grabs at Alexander! Alexander DECKS Miz, dodges Ciampa, but handsprings onto a dropkick!

Miz and Ciampa applaud and pat themselves on the back while fans boo, but this new “Must-See Duo” are on top while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns as Miz fires off It Kicks on Alexander in the corner. Tag to Ciampa, he whips Miz in to A-LIST LARIAT! Then feed to Ciampa’s LARIAT, cover, TWO!! Alexander survives that combo but Ciampa clamps on a bulldog headlock! Fans rally up as Alexander endures and fights up. Ciampa swings but misses, Alexander fires off hands but Ciampa ROCKS him! Ciampa reels Alexander in, but Alexander suplexes first! Fans fire up and Alexander crawls over, but so does Ciampa, hot tags to Miz and Ali! Ali dodges, fires off CHOP after CHOP, then whips corner to corner. Miz reverses but Ali uses it to SHOTGUN Ciampa!

Ali slips out, ROUNDHOUSES Miz then slingshots and NECKBREAKERS on Miz! Cover, TWO! Ali drags Miz up but Miz YANKS him into ropes! Alexander tags in, he ducks Miz’s haymaker to back suplex but Miz lands on his feet! Alexander fights the full nelson to scoop and SLAM! Cover, Ciampa helps Miz get the ropebreak! Just like Miz has done for Ciampa! Fans boo and Alexander knows what happened! Alexander glares at Ciampa but Ali DIVES and sends Ciampa over the desk! Miz DUMPS Alexander out but Alexander shoulders back in! Slingshot sunset flip but Miz sit son it! Ale BOOTS Miz over! Alexander has the cover, TWO!!

Fans can’t believe Miz survives! Alexander hurries to tag in Ali, and Alexander drags Miz up. Feed to Ali, Alexander runs, but Ciampa dumps him out! Ali storms over but Ciampa gets away. Miz rolls Ali up, TWO! Ciampa tags in and Miz runs, into a SUPERKICK! Ali goes up but focused on Miz! 450 PSYCHO KNEE!!!! Then the underhooks into the FAIRY TALE ENDING!!! Cover, Miz & Ciampa win!!

Winners: The Miz & Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall

WHOA! Miz has a bloody nose but he and Ciampa are the ones standing tall! Will it be a Fairy Tale Ending for the Hollywood A-Lister and his new co-star?

 

Ezekiel’s family responds to Kevin Owens’ brutal assault.

Not just Elias and Elrod, but their mother, father, and kid brother, too! Ernie Jr, says if he ever gets his hands on Kevin, he will get a piece of his mind!

 

Drew McIntyre heads to gorilla.

But as he does, someone is putting out a fire! Is that the work of Dexter Lumis…?

 

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring!

The Scottish Warrior may be part of SmackDown, but he’s here on Raw because Clash at the Castle is coming! And if McIntyre wins, he’ll be able to show up on Raw all he wants! For now, McIntyre gets a mic to say, “Washington, let me hear ya scream!” Fans shout for McIntyre and he says, “I know it’s a shock to see Drew McIntyre on Raw. I’m technically on Friday Night SmackDown. It might be even more shocking to see the other guy here on Raw, but that’s something we can rectify in less than three weeks’ time. Because at Clash at the Castle, it’s Drew McIntyre VS Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Championship.”

To finish McIntyre’s thoughts from Friday, this isn’t a match that happens on the fictional Island of Relevancy! It’s taking place on DREW’S island! And he is gonna drop Roman’s ass, win those titles, and then show up on Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown, the live events, everywhere the titles should be because that is what the fans and those titles deserve! And he knows there are reports that McIntyre is suffering from a back injury. To be honest, yes, it is true. Because he’s been carrying the load of 20 men for three years in the WWE, in the ring and outside it!

And he does it with a smile on his face because it is a PRIVILEGE. This isn’t a job, it’s a DREAM! That’s why he’s hereon his day off! McIntyre is here on Raw to scout the future opponents he’ll have! Wanna hear some potential ones? McIntyre VS Tommaso Ciampa! McIntyre VS AJ Styles! McIntyre VS Seth Freakin’ Rollins! McIntyre VS Karrion Kross! But here comes Kevin Owens! Kevin has a mic and McIntyre says he likes this idea, too! McIntyre VS KO! Kevin says it is so convenient that McIntyre says his name now.

But there is something about Drew that Kevin never understood. As big and good and strong as McIntyre is, he still feels the need to pretend he’s something he’s not. Because he comes out here, talks with his big, loud almost comical voice! Sometimes he has his kilt, sometimes he has a sword. He thinks this is Medieval Times? But McIntyre is delusional because if he thinks he’s been carrying anyone’s weight around here, he’s a real dumbass! Kevin says McIntyre has no idea who he really is! Kevin’s been the same person his entire 22 years of wrestling! He is and always will be Kevin Owens, who is as real as it gets in this business!

But these past few years, people have forgotten what Kevin’s about! That’s Kevin’s fault, though> he’s been having a good time, having fun coming to work. But then something dawned on Kevin when he got here today. He got goosebumps because he realized that this is the very same arena where at Battleground, Kevin and Sami Zayn had the fight of their lives and left everything they had in that ring! They gave people a match they STILL talk about six years later! And then Kevin realized there’s a side of him that’s been missing for far too long. He misses that side. He misses the old Kevin Owens. He needs to bring back the Prizefighter!

And Drew, Kevin hasn’t held a title in five long YEARS. But enough is enough, and it is time for a change! Now, Kevin is coming after everything! Every champion is a target! The US Champion, the Intercontinental Champion, the Tag Team Champions, and Drew, Kevin doesn’t care if it’s you or Roman. Whoever walks out of Cardiff has a hell of a problem, because Kevin wants the biggest prize of them all! The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship!! Fans cheer that, and McIntyre says okay, he let Kevin say his piece. And frankly, McIntyre will have to respond. McIntyre is sick of people making stuff up juts to get a reaction.

They say things like McIntyre doesn’t carry the load, he doesn’t know who he is. He knows exactly who he is, too!! Someone mocked him for being “The Chosen One.” That was 15 YEARS AGO!! Then he got FIRED, and had to work his ass off, earn his way back off! He didn’t call the WWE, they called him! And he’s worked his ass off ever since! A two-time world champion! He beat Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Randy Orton and everyone who has stood in his path! Don’t you dare pull this BS again!! Now, it’s time for Kevin and McIntyre to stop talking. Prizefighter, sports entertainer, superstar, they’re wrestlers in a wrestling ring, so let’s just freakin’ wrestle!!

Fans are thunderous and Kevin tells McIntyre that he may not be a prize, but he’s still on! Kevin and McIntyre, a preview of coming attractions, who will win this fight?

Drew McIntyre VS Kevin Owens!

Raw returns and this is happening! The bell rings, they tie up and McIntyre puts Kevin in a corner. He lets off and welcomes Kevin to return, and the two reset. They tie up again, McIntyre pushes Kevin back but Kevin turns things around. Kevin lets off now and he circles with McIntyre again. Fans rally and duel and the tow tie up again. Kevin headlocks, McIntyre powers up and out, but Kevin RAMS him. McIntyre stays up and says, “Not today!” Kevin kicks low and says, “Shut up!” as he headlocks again. McIntyre powers up, powers out, and they RAM shoulders again. McIntyre says up Kevin’s, then kicks low!

McIntyre headlocks now but Kevin powers out. Things speed up, McIntyre RAMS Kevin and sends him flying! McIntyre stomps and punches Kevin in the corner, whips him corner to corner hard, then runs in. But Kevin elbows back and POSTS McIntyre! McIntyre sits down, Kevin says “SUCK IT!” and CANNONBALLS! Fans fire up and Kevin soaks it all up! “This is MY show!” Kevin drags McIntyre to a drop zone, then hits a SENTON, to a MOONSAULT! Cover, ONE!! Kevin grinds a forearm into McIntyre’s face, then stands on McIntyre’s hand. Kevin throws haymakers, then has McIntyre in a corner. Kevin RAMS his shoulder in as fans rally up.

The ref counts, Kevin lets off and brings McIntyre out. Fans duel, Kevin suplexes, but McIntyre blocks! And blocks again, to suplex Kevin and TOSS him! McIntyre says, “SUCK IT” back! Kevin bails out, so McIntyre builds speed! Kevin gets in to ROCK McIntyre! Kevin tosses McIntyre out, builds speed, but McIntyre ROCKS him! McIntyre brings Kevin up but Kevin fights the suplex! Kevin HOTSHOTS McIntyre, POSTS McIntyre, and McIntyre falls to the floor! Kevin steps back but then goes out to APRON FROG SPLASH!! Fans fire up and Kevin roars, “This is MY show!” as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Kevin has McIntyre down in a chinlock. McIntyre endures and fans rally up, but Kevin leans on the hold. McIntyre fights up, Kevin CLUBS him, and CLUBS him again. Kevin whips McIntyre corner to corner but McIntyre comes back to CLOBBER Kevin! And again! McIntyre whips, and OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes Kevin away! Kevin gets to a corner but McIntyre clinches to OVERHEAD Belly2Belly again! And then McIntyre hits a NECKBREAKER! McIntyre kips up and fans fire up! McIntyre aims, Kevin gets up, and McIntyre underhooks, but Kevin wrenches out! Kevin kicks and hits a DDT of his own! Cover, TWO!

Kevin is annoyed but the fans rally up again. Kevin waits on McIntyre and then brings him around. Fans duel as Kevin whips, but McIntyre BOOTS back! McIntyre scoops Kevin but Kevin slips off to waistlock. McIntyre elbows free, runs in but Kevin BOOTS McIntyre down! Kevin goes up the corner again, for a SWANTON BOMB onto knees! McIntyre reels Kevin in to MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre is a bit surprised Kevin survives but the fans rally up again. McIntyre snarls as he stalks Kevin to a corner. McIntyre drags Kevin up, throws hands and CHOPS in the corner, then hoists him up top.

McIntyre ROCKS Kevin, climbs up after him, but Kevin trips him up! Kevin adjusts, throws haymakers, and McIntyre falls into the Tree of Woe. But he sits right up! Kevin fights the clinch and HEADBUTTS McIntyre down! Kevin hurries to CANNONBALL McIntyre out of the Tree! Then Kevin goes back up top, for the FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre barely kicks out so Kevin goes right back up! SWNTON BOMB hits this time! Cover, TWO!!! McIntyre survives again! Kevin is beside himself but DC is thunderous! “This is Awesome!” as Kevin thinks of what to try next. Kevin paces, then decides to go up one more time!

McIntyre is right up! He ROCKS Kevin again and again, then climbs up after him! McIntyre fireman’s carries Kevin for a SUPER WHITE NOISE!! Cover, TWO!?! McIntyre is beside himself! But he goes to the corner and he wants Kevin to stand up. CLAY- SUPERKICK!! Kevin kicks, but no stunner! GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! SUPERKICK!! LARIAT!! Both men are down and fans are giving a standing ovation! Kevin gets to the ropes, McIntyre gets to his feet. Kevin and McIntyre just start throwing haymakers! They go faster and faster and it’s just a brawl! Fans are loving it as they get a second wind!

Kevin kicks low, whips, but McIntyre leaps out of the pop-up to turn and FUTURE SHOCK! McIntyre hurries to a corner, he takes aim again, but wait! THE USOS attack!!

Winner: Drew McIntyre, by disqualification

The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions do Roman Reigns’ dirty work! Jey drags McIntyre up, for a SUPERKICK from Jimmy! Jey then goes up top, and USO- NO! McIntyre dodges the splash, CLOBBERS Jimmy, then TOSSES Jey out onto Jimmy! A nasty landing for the Usos, but then Kevin returns! STUNNER!! The Prizefighter gets the last word, but then he tells the Usos to tell Roman that he owes Kevin one. But then the Usos pick the bones, ONE AND- HEADBUTT! McIntyre dodges Jimmy to CLAYMORE!! Turns out McIntyre gets the last word! Will the Scottish Warrior rip the Tribal Chief off the throne at Clash at the Castle?

 

Seth Rollins is here!

The Visionary promised he’d be here to hear from Matt Riddle just like the rest of us, but what will Rollins have to say about what Riddle has to say? We’ll find out, after the break.

Raw returns and Rollins has a mic. “I am a Visionary. I am a revolutionary. I am Seth! Freakin’! Rollins! HAHAHA! And I am excited because the time has finally come.” Riddle is getting mic’d up in his mom’s basement via satellite, and he’s about to give us his “big news.” So Rollins came out here for a front row seat so we can all celebrate together, when finally, for the first time in his life, Riddle does the smart thing and tells the entire world that he is retiring! HAHAHAAA! Don’t boo! This is cause for celebration. Riddle can do whatever he wants. He can go back to middle school and finish the seventh grade.

Riddle can start a farm! That industry is very lucrative these days. Riddle says he’s glad Rollins is out there so fans can see what a slimy piece of trash he is! But Riddle doe shave a medical update about his condition. Well here it is! The moment we’ve all been waiting for. Rollins knows this is very difficult for Riddle, so the fans need to be respectful. Riddle, please continue. Riddle says it is a bit hard to say this… But he’s MEDICALLY CLEARED! So the next time Riddle sees Rollins, it is on! Oh, okay, it’s on, huh? Next time they see each other. Like at Madison Square Garden? Or SummerSlam?

Because it seems to Rollins that any time they’re in the same place at the same time, the outcome is the same: Rollins stomping Riddle into the mat! And does Riddle know why that is? Because Rollins is always one, two, three steps ahead! Rollins wishes Riddle was here right now because Rollins would love nothing more than to stomp those last few brain cells out of Riddle’s stupid, stompable head! Well glad you feel that way, Rollins. Because Riddle is NOT in his mom’s basement. He is here in DC and the arena! SO he’ll head to the ring to kick Rollins’ ass!! Riddle is rushing to gorilla, here he comes! And then down the ramp!

Riddle slides in but slides out to avoid the stomp! He drag Rollins out and fire off hands! Fans fire up, Rollins RAMS Riddle into barriers but runs away. Riddle pursues to fire off KICK after KICK after KICK! Then a BROSPLODER! Rollins bails out, Riddle goes to the apron but Rollins trips him up! Riddle crashes down hard, and Rollins drags him back up to TOSS over the desk! Rollins rains down fists, clears off the desk, and then he drags Riddle onto it! “How stupid are you!? How stupid are you?!” Rollins CLUBS Riddle, then climbs up onto the desk! CURB- NO, Riddle dodges! Rollins falls over, Riddle KNEES him into the crowd!

Riddle then pursues, and they run up the bleachers! The fans cheer Riddle on as he runs Rollins off! But will Rollins have no choice but to take The Stallion on soon enough?

 

Backstage interview with Riddle.

Kevin Patrick says Riddle returned for the first time since Rollins’ SumemrSlam attack. Riddle knows all that, KP, but tonight was just a taste. Riddle is issuing a challenge! Rollins: Clash at the Castle! Be there! Will the Bro get to burn it down with the Architect in Cardiff?

 

Veer Mahaan VS Beaux Keller!

The Lion of India is on the hunt again, and DC’s own is on the menu! Will everyone from sea to shining sea come to #FearVeer?

The bell rings and Veer circles with Beaux. Veer rushes in, Beaux dodges, and then dodges again! Fans rally up as Beaux shows he can move. Veer rushes in but Beaux dodges again and then bails out! Veer chases after but Beaux gets back in the ring. Beaux plays keep-away as Veer gets back in, then Beaux DROPKICSK Veer! Veer shakes it off but Beaux throws a haymaker! And then another, only to get caught and TOSSED out of the ring! Veer then goes out after Beaux to choke grip and TOSS him back into the ring! Veer gets in and runs at the corner to SPLASH! Beaux staggers, into a FLYING THESZ PRESS!

Veer growls and stomps around, for the MILLION DOLLAR LARIAT! Beaux flounders, but Veer HIP DROPS, into the CERVICAL CLUTCH!! Beaux taps, Veer wins!

Winner: Veer Mahaan, by pinfall

Another battle, another win as another mere mortal falls prey to Veer Mahaan! Will even champions begin to #FearVeer?

 

Backstage interview with Dakota Kai, Bayley & Iyo Sky.

What can we expect from Kai’s first singles match here on Raw? Uh, Sarah, if you’ve been paying attention, you don’t need to ask that. Then for clarification, can she elaborate? Ugh, Bayley can’t believe this. For all the idiots out there, and for “clarification’s sake,” just please tell them. How is this: spoiler alert, she’ll win! That good enough? Sky says in Japanese and Bayley translates into English, you can expect them all to do a lot more winning when these two become the NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions! And that means first, they beat Alexa & Asuka next week, and again at Clash at the Castle.

Kai then spots something and walks over. “Hey! Relax. We’re not here to ambush you,” Dana, Kai just wants to make sure she’s ready. Oh, Dana’s ready. She is ready 24/7! And if these three are trying to intimidate her, she is NOT afraid of them. Kai says fear is a motivator. Maybe Dana should be afraid. Kai, Sky & Bayley head out, but will #CobraKai sink her teeth into the Flex Appeal?

 

WWE United States Championship: Bobby Lashley VS AJ Styles!

Though they’ve battled in a tag team match, back when MVP was on the All Mighty’s side and the Nigerian Giant was on the Phenomenal One’s team, this is the first-ever 1v1 battle between these two icons! Who wins this dream match to say they are truly phenomenal?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who carries the golden banner of this great country!

Lashley and Styles circle, feel things out, and Styles KICKS! And ROCKS and KICKS again! Styles has Lashley in a corner, he has the leg, but Lashley shoves him away! Lashley then runs Styles over! Lashley drags Styles up, bumps him off buckles, then throws back elbow after back elbow! The ref counts, Lashley lets off and hits a NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! Styles is showing he’s tougher than that, but Lashley drags him back up. Styles fires off forearms, but Lashley kicks low! Lashley runs, but Styles hurdles and things speed up, Styles DROPKICKS Lashley down! Fans fire up while Styles catches his breath.

Styles drags Lashley around to drop an elbow on the leg! And another! Fans duel as Styles kicks the leg and paces around. Styles drags Lashley up, bumps him off buckles, but Lashley scoops and SLAMS Styles! Lashley drags Styles up now, throws him out of the ring, but Styles lands on his feet! Styles gets in as Lashley slides out, and Styles dropkicks Lashley away! Then slingshots, but has to bail out as Lashley moves! Lashley then fireman’s carries Styles to run, but Styles slips off! Lashley stops from hitting the post and he elbows Styles away. But Styles gets up on the apron to SLIDING KNEE! And then FLYING FOREARM!

Fans fire up as Lashley goes down! Both men are on the outside, catching their breath, and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Styles has Lashley in the corner again. Styles whips him corner to corner but Lashley reverses. Styles slides into the POST! Styles writhes but Lashley leaves him outside the ring as the count climbs. But then Lashley goes out at 5 of 10 to RAM Styles into the barriers! And then TOSS him into more barriers! Styles almost falls into the timekeeper’s area, but Lashley drags him up to RAM him! Lashley gets in the ring at 7 of 10 to refresh the count. He then goes back to get Styles and put him in the ring. Styles crawls to a corner, Lashley stalks after him. Lashley drags Styles up, throws back elbows, then stomps Styles down.

Lashley throws more elbows as the ref counts, and Lashley rains down fists! The ref backs Lashley away to check Styles but Styles says he’s still good to go. Lashley drags Styles up but Styles hits a JAWBREAKER! And an ENZIGURI! Fans fire up as Styles stands back up, and he stomps Lashley down! Styles hobbles, clutching his bad back. But Styles stomps Lashley more, runs, and drops a knee! Fans rally up while Styles grits his teeth and stands up. Lashley hits back with big forearm shots! Styles KICKS the leg, Lashley shoves him, but Styles KICKS him back! Styles fires off more hands and CHOPS!

Styles runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up again as Lashley looms over Styles. Lashley drags Styles up, whips him to the corner again, and Styles SMACKS off the post from the top this time! Styles falls down, but here come Miz and Ciampa! Fans boo but Lashley drags Styles up. Lashley whips Styles corner to corner hard and Styles bounces off off buckles! Miz & Ciampa are ringside and Lashley glares at them. Fans taunt Miz over his “TINY BALLS! TINY BALLS!” but Ciampa covers Miz’s ears to tune that out. Lashley drags Styles up, reels him in and suplexes, but Styles blocks! And blocks again!

Lashley CLUBS away on Styles’ back, suplexes again, but Styles knees free! But Lashley kicks low to try again! He hangs Styles out to dry, then CLOBBERS him! Styles holds on, Lashley runs again, and he BLASTS Styles off the apron! Styles hits the ground hard, but Ciampa distracts Lashley! Miz sneaks up on Styles, drags him up, but DEXTER LUMIS jumps the railing!! Security jumps on Lumis and they spill over into commentary! Miz is shocked to see this and backs away while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Styles has Lashley down now! It’s of note that Miz & Ciampa are gone from ringside. That’s because after Lashley gave Miz a Spear, the ref REJECTED Miz and Ciampa! Styles KICKS the leg and Lashley flounders. Styles drags Lashley up, kicks but Lashley blocks to ELBOW him! And a BIG lift for the COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Lashley waits on Styles to stand up, Lashley runs in but is sent right out! Styles KICKS Lashley off the apron, then SLINGHOT FOREARMS! Direct hit and they’re down at the ramp again! Styles puts Lashley in the ring, blocks a punch to fire off the Phenomenal Blitz! LARIAT to SLIDING FOREARM!

Fans fire up behind Styles as he grimaces and gets back up. Lashley goes to the other corner, Styles runs in to SPLASH! And then fireman’s carry! But Lashley slips off and shoves Styles into the corner! Lashley CLUBS Styles, TOSSES him to the apron, but Styles shoulders back in! Styles KICKS the leg out, slingshots again, FALLING FOREARM! Cover, TWO!! Lashley keeps surviving these shots but Styles gets him up, Lashley RAMS Styles into a corner! And again and again! But then Styles BOOTS Lashley away! Styles runs, tilt-o-whirl, but into a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives and Lashley is surprised!

Lashley stalks Styles to a corner and hauls him back up. Lashley then hauls Styles up to the top rope! Fans rally and duel again and Lashley ROCKS Styles with a right. Lashley climbs up, brings Styles up in a clinch, but Styles slips out underneath! CHOP BLOCK, then a torture rack! TOWER HACKER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Styles’ back may have been a factor, but he stands up again. Fans rally, Styles brings Lashley up and reels him in, but no Clash yet! Lashley back drops Styles away! Lashley wants Styles to stand, but Styles doesn’t, so Lashley hauls him up to the Canadian Rack! CLIFFHANGER! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives again!!

Lashley gator rolls Styles to the apron and then fireman’s carries him. Lashley runs in to POST Styles! Styles helicopters to the floor! But Lashley isn’t done, he drags Styles up and into the ring. Lashley aims from a corner, runs in, but Styles KICKS the Spear away! Then rolls Lashley into the CALF CRUSHER!! Lashley endures but Styles pulls way back on the leg!! Lashley slips an arm inside the grip and breaks it, to get a HURT LOCK on the floor! Styles rolls it back to a cover, TWO!! Lashley lets Styles go in time, but Styles KICKS the leg! Lashley is in the corner, Styles runs in, “This is Awesome!” as Lashley puts Styles on the apron!

Styles ROCKS Lashley, prepares his armband, leaps but no Phenomenal Forearm! Lashley rebounds and SPEARS!! Cover, Lashley wins!!

Winner: Bobby Lashley, by pinfall (still WWE United States Champion)

That was a phenomenal battle with a MIGHTY ending! The title stays with Bobby Lashley, who will be next to step to the Rocky Mountain Machine?

 

Dakota Kai w/ Iyo Sky & Bayley VS Dana Brooke!

The Role Model has promised she, Kai & Sky will take control of Raw, and that is starting with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament. Will #CobraKai show that the 24/7 Championship is beneath them?

The bell rings and Kai ties up with Dana. They are in a deadlock, but Dana waistlocks. Kai breaks free and PELES Dana right down! Kai waits on Dana to get up, and Kai BOOTS her against ropes! Dana flops down, Kai covers, TWO! Kai stays cool and she pushes Dana around. Bayley says to take control, and Kai whips Dana into the corner hard! BOOT WASH! Bayley wants commentary to talk about that! Kai covers, TWO! Kai snarls but Bayley says she’s so proud. Kai sits Dana up to fire off Kawada Kicks! Dana shoves her away but Kai kicks Dana around more. Dana throws more hands but Kai throws more kicks!

Kai whips Dana to a corner, runs in but Dana BOOTS back! Dana then elbows Kai, ducks ‘n’ dodges and fires off forearms! Dana hits a short arm LARIAT, then another! Fans fire up with Dana and she brings Kai up to whip her to a corner. Kai hits hard, Dana handsprings in and back elbows! Dana keeps moving, but the bulldog is sent into buckles! Kai runs in Around the World, BOOT!! Cover, Kai wins!

Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall

Bayley & Sky celebrate with Kai, they’re taking over one win at a time! Will they be truly in control once they get those tag titles?

 

(Austin) Theory VS Dolph Ziggler!

The Youngest Mr. MITB Ever may have missed his opportunity at SummerSlam, but there’s always Clash at the Castle! Will Theory show the Showoff that Theory is the future? Or will Ziggler show Theory that he still has much to learn in the present?

Raw returns and Ziggler makes his entrance. The bell rings and Ziggler TACKES Theory! They scrap, Ziggler gets around and has the SLEEPER! Theory flails but he’s already turning red! Theory pries free, rains down fists, but Ziggler slips around to body scissor! He makes it a cover, ONE, and Theory throws more hands! Ziggler pushes Theory away but Theory DECKS Ziggler with that left! Theory snarls and scowls and he looms over Ziggler. Ziggler gets to the corner, the ref backs Theory off, but Theory storms up on Ziggler to POST him! Theory seethes and he brings Ziggler out. Theory POSTS Ziggler again!

Theory drags Ziggler back in to say, “All day! You hear me? All day!” And he POSTS Ziggler again! Theory is snarling even more as he drags Ziggler to a cover, TWO!! Ziggler is still in this but Theory puts him on the ropes. Theory CHOKES Ziggler, lets off at 4, and then soaks up the heat. “This is my time!” Theory says Ziggler isn’t gonna last, but then Ziggler ROCKS and SATELLITE DDTs Theory down! Fans fire up as Ziggler and Theory are both on the mat. Ziggler gets to his feet while Theory goes to a corner. Ziggler drags Theory up to POST him in return! Theory flops to the apron then the floor and fans fire up again.

Ziggler shakes out his bad arm, goes out after Theory and smacks him off the apron! The ref counts, Ziggler puts Theory in, and he drags Theory back up to fire off haymakers. Ziggler throws body shots in the corner, lets off as the ref counts, and he hoists Theory up top. Ziggler climbs up after Theory now, and goes to the very top! But Theory holds the superplex off and throws body shots! Theory ROCKS Ziggler and he drops down! Fans boo but Theory tells them to shut up. Ziggler comes right back to SUPER FACEBUSTER! But Ziggler clutches his leg! Ziggler crawls to a cover, TWO!! Theory survives thanks to the delay, and Raw goes to break!

Raw returns again and Theory grinds Ziggler down in a chinlock. Fans rally up as Ziggler fights to his feet. Ziggler throws elbows into Theory’s ribs and then ROCKS Theory with a haymaker! And another! Both men stagger but Ziggler runs in, drop toehold into buckles! Theory storms around on the apron, takes aim and slingshots to somersault, and SHOTGUN! Cover, TWO! Theory is furious so he drags Ziggler up to POST again! Ziggler hangs out of the corner, but Theory drags him in. “I can do this all day! You’re nothing!” Fans rally for Ziggler but Theory keeps talking trash. Theory gets Ziggler up, suplexes, but Ziggler slips off!

Ziggler goes to a corner and UPPERCUTS back! Theory rushes in again, but into a BOOT! Theory tries one more time, but only gets buckles! Ziggler runs and LARIATS Theory down! And LARIATS again! And then jumps into the corner to rain down fists! Fans count and Ziggler goes way past 10! Ziggler turns Theory to a NECKBREAKER! And then a BIG elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Ziggler is beside himself but the fans rally behind him. Ziggler slaps some sense into himself, aims from a corner, and Theory slowly rises. SUPER- NO, Theory blocks the kick, shoves Ziggler away, but Ziggler ELBOWS him! Ziggler goes up but Theory CLUBS him down!

Theory torture racks Ziggler for a TOWERHACKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Ziggler is showing Theory just why he’s a Grand Slam Champion! Theory snarls, he goes to the apron again and fans jeer and boo. Theory fires up, slingshots again, but into a FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Theory survives and DC can’t believe it! Ziggler facelocks Theory and drags him up. Ziggler ROCKS Theory, eggs him on, so Theory ROCKS him back! Ziggler ROCKS Theory, Theory ROCKS Ziggler, repeat! Fans fire up as the shots go back and forth, faster and faster! Theory kicks the leg, CLUBS away on Ziggler, fires off hands, but Ziggler kicks back! And a HEADBUTT!

ZIG- NO, no Zigzag, BIG LARIAT!! Theory calls his shot, he hauls Ziggler back up, fireman’s carries him, but Ziggler fights free! Sunset flip, TWO! Theory sits on it, TWO!! Fireman’s carry but Ziggler slips off to a ZIGZAG!! Cover, TWO!?!? Theory survives Ziggler’s best shot, is Theory backing up all his trash talk? Fans rally up as Ziggler and Theory stir. Ziggler sits up first and stands back up. Fans fire up as Ziggler is in the corner, and Ziggler tunes up the band! Theory rises, Ziggler rushes in, but no superkick! Roll up, FEET ONT HE ROPES!! The ref sees it just in time! Ziggler rolls Theory now, TWO!!

Ziggler kicks the legs, runs and FAM- NO! Fireman’s carry! A TOWN DOWN!!! Cover, Theory wins!!

Winner: (Austin) Theory, by pinfall

Fans boo but Theory just takes a victory selfie! Will the Youngest Mr. MITB continue to upset everyone as he continues to pull out victories?


My Thoughts:

Another great Raw, though I am curious as to what we got as the main event. Ziggler VS Theory was a great match, but I did not expect that to be what closes the show with how red hot a lot of other stories have been going. I did like that during the brawl between Theory and Ziggler that Lumis’ arm was in that doorway. It doesn’t outright indicate Lumis and Theory will reunite under The Way, but it doesn’t eliminate that possibility. And it seems Lumis is obsessed with AJ Styles. Lashley VS Styles was a great match, even with Miz & Ciampa showing up, but Lumis shows up at the end of another AJ Styles match, so Styles VS Lumis might be the feud after Clash at the Castle.

Miz & Ciampa also had a very good match against Alexander & Ali, and with Ciampa saying he will seize his next title opportunity, I wonder if Miz & Ciampa will help fill out the tag division for a moment since Usos cleared out quite a few other teams. And of course the Usos showed up to go after McIntyre. McIntyre and Kevin Owens had an awesome promo segment, and awesome match, but then the Usos had to “ruin” it. But McIntyre stands tall tonight, so who knows how heated it’ll get this Friday on SmackDown.

And while Kevin is returning to his old self, he also seems to have the added gimmick of claiming no one else knows who they are. I hope he gets to cut a promo on the entire Elias/Ezekiel family. I busted up at that picture they had of the whole family. I hope we get a Nutty Professor: Meet the Klumps kind of promo. Then, like Omos did before, Veer returned to do another squash match just so we don’t forget he exists. At this point, why not have those two guys interact. Omos VS Veer would be really tricky, though, because one of those monsters has to lose. A team of them would also be hard because how would the Usos survive them? At the very least, HHH should probably move one of them over to SmackDown so there’s more space for both of them.

Dakota also squashed Dana to kinda make a point that “The Control” (still not canonically named on TV) are higher up on the card. And we haven’t gotten any 24/7 Championship shenanigans lately, I wonder what HHH has planned for that title. We got a great opening match from the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament, Asuka & Alexa of course winning to then take on Kai & Sky next round. That is going to be a great match, just on Asuka and Sky finally facing off in the WWE. I would think Kai & Sky win to then win the tag titles before Clash at the Castle, but who knows. If so, I wonder if there’s a possibility of Winners Take All in that Six Woman Tag…

We got a good promo from The Judgement Day, and a pretty good brawl with Rey Mysterio, but of course Rey loses when it’s 3v1. I wonder if the Raw in Toronto will help push things towards Edge & Rey VS Judgement Day in time for Clash. And it seems Rollins VS Riddle is happening at Clash after not happening at SummerSlam. Rollins and Riddle had a great promo and a great brawl, they should have an almost show-stealing match.

My Score: 8.5/10


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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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