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Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (9/16/22)

Who’s next for the Usos?

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SmackDown 2022

Who will be the ones to challenge “the ones?”

SmackDown holds the rematch of the #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way for the Usos’ Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships! Will there be no destructive interruptions this time?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Ricochet w/ Logan Paul VS Sami Zayn w/ The Bloodline; Ricochet wins.
  • Bayley w/ Damage Control VS Raquel Rodriguez; Bayley wins.
  • NXT North American Championship: Solo Sikoa VS Mad Cap Moss; wins and
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The New Day VS The Street Profits VS The Alpha Academy VS Los Lotharios VS The Brawling Brutes VS Hit Row VS Imperium; The Brawling Brutes win and will challenge the Usos for the titles next week.

PLAY BY PLAY

Logan Paul is here!

Anaheim is about to get #ImPAULsive as the social media mogul heads to the ring. Logan had Roman Reigns on the ImPAULsive podcast and dared to say he could take The Tribal Chief in a match. And through social media, Roman retorted back, “I bless the world and bring the Island of Relevancy to your show. You and your boys acknowledge me and as soon as I’m gone, you run your mouth?! Wiseman, handle him.” And Paul Heyman replied, “My #TribalChief, please consider this HANDLED!” Logan has the mic in the present to say, “Well, well, well, well. Ladies and gentlemen, I think I did it again. Whoops.”

Logan says he has a habit of opening his mouth and saying some stupid stuff. This past week, he had someone they might know. He goes by the name “Roman Reigns.” The Tribal Chief left, Logan said if he wrestled Roman, it’d be his match. “What?” “I’ll tell you what!” “What?” “I’ll tell you what! I once opened my mouth about the great Floyd Mayweather, and not even him, the greatest boxer of all time, could put me down. Or pay me. We’re still working on it.” So Logan simply issued a challenge to Roman, and guess what? Logan’s taken the liberty of setting up a press conference in Las Vegas. If Roman’s man enough, he’ll meet Logan there face-to-face.

“Ladies and gentlemen…!” Fans fire up because look who’s back! And with the Bloodline’s Usos, Solo Sikoa, and even Honorary Uce, Sami Zayn, with him! “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman. And I swerve as the Special Counsel, and the Wiseman, to YOUR Tribal Chief, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! Universal Heavyweight Champion… Roman. Reigns.” Heyman tells the rest that he’s got this, but the Usos, Solo and Sami still flank the ring. Fans rally for Heyman as he steps into the ring with Logan. Heyman shakes Logan’s hand to complete the formal introductions, and then Heyman says he’ll “handle” Logan.

“There he is! Logan Paul.” Fans boo and Heyman’s gotta say, if there was ever anyone from outside of the WWE who could’ve been a Paul Heyman Guy, it’s Logan Paul. “This man, this athlete, this global sensation, stepped up and fought the greatest boxer of all time, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. And never went down! Not once! Held your own! Went the distance like Rocky. Now, then again, fighting Floyd Mayweather at 6’2″ when Floyd Mayweather at standing up comes to me, headbutting me in the testicles, it’s alright. I wouldn’t fight Floyd Mayweather.” Logan says of course not, it’s Floyd Mayweather. Heyman probably wouldn’t fight anyone, where’s he going with this?

Heyman says he knows we’re in Anaheim, but don’t be Mickey Mouse, Logan. Don’t “Ooo~” me. Logan’s brother, Jake, picks a fight with the greatest MMA striker in Anderson Silva, who’s gonna knock Jake out, no disrespect. Fans cheer that one! Heyman says he wouldn’t fight Jake, he wouldn’t fight Logan, and Logan shouldn’t open his mouth about the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Heyman doesn’t care about ambitions or athletic backgrounds or that the Paul Brothers have changed the fight game. All Heyman cares about is right now, right here, in this moment, Logan makes the smart decision of picking a fight with someone else.

Logan says c’mon! Heyman’s a promoter, he should get how this works! And Logan knows Heyman knows how great this could be. And it’ll just be a press conference! What’re they so afraid of? Logan sees a lot of Samoans, a Sami Zayn and a Paul Heyman, but he can’t understand why they’re afraid. Are they afraid that at the press conference, Logan would challenge Roman? And that said challenge would be for the title? Assuming that, you then assume Roman would smash Logan. And you’re probably right. “But what if he doesn’t? What if I land that one lucky shot on Roman Reigns? Cuz that’s all it takes: One lucky shot, and I drop your Tribal Chief like a sack of potatoes!

“And what if I beat Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship?” Fans boo that and Sami keeps the Usos calm. Heyman says “If” Jake’s brother had balls, he’d be Logan’s sister, but he doesn’t, so he’s not. Heyman doesn’t like “If” or the scenario, and quite bluntly, he doesn’t like Logan, either. Logan says Heyman’s a funny guy. Heyman steps closer to say, “Now, I have to handle you. SOLO!” The NEW North American Champion steps up into the ring! Logan says y’know what? Let’s make a bet. Logan bets he can knock Heyman out and be out of the ring before Solo gets to him. Take the bet!

Sami says take it easy! Solo, it’s alright. Fans cheer Sami as he gets in the ring. Sami says he’s got this, Uce. You’re good. Solo steps down and Sami tells Heyman that he knows the Honorary Uce has nothing but respect. But maybe Heyman’s just not the right man for this job. Maybe Roman Reigns should’ve let Sami handle Logan. Heyman tosses his mic and leaves. Fine! Handle it! Okay, a little diplomacy goes a long way! And Logan! Friend! Logan, you’re not from this world so Sami will explain something to him. Logan DECKS Sami! How do things work around here, Sami? Logan would like to know. The Usos & Solo rush in but Logan gets away!

And here comes Ricochet! The One & Only isn’t here to help Logan but he still shakes his hand. Ricochet’s got business with the Honorary Uce, will he take advantage of Logan’s haymaker?

 

Ricochet w/ Logan Paul VS Sami Zayn w/ The Bloodline!

SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Ricochet and Sami circle, feel things out, and tie up. Sami headlocks, grinds the hold, but Ricochet powers up and out, only for Sami to run him over! The Bloodline holds up the fingers, #WeTheOnes. Ricochet gets up and says okay. They go again, feeling out the knuckle lock. Ricochet waistlocks but Sami wrenches the arm to a wristlock. Sami wrangles Ricochet down and grinds the arm, but Ricochet handsprings up and flips around to wrench back! Ricochet has the wristlock, he grinds the arm, but Sami fights up to knee low. Sami headlocks but Ricochet powers up and out.

Things speed up, Sami runs Ricochet over! Cover, ONE, but Sami clamps onto Ricochet with a chinlock. Ricochet endures, fights up, and he powers out. Things speed up again, Ricochet hurdles and then rolls off Sami’s back. Ricochet then rolls under to handspring and RANA! Then a DROPKICK! Fans fire up with Ricochet and he ROCKS Sami. And ROCKS him again! Ricochet CHOPS Sami, whips him to ropes, but Sami holds ropes to bail out! Sami glares at Logan and Logan asks how the chin feels. Sami says Logan’s pretty tough after a sucker punch. But then Ricochet WRECKS Sami with a dropkick!

Ricochet puts Sami in the ring, he shoulders in then slingshots but Sami trips him up! Ricochet sputters but Sami rains down fists! Sami lets off while the Usos cheer him on. Sami drags Ricochet up, bumps him off buckles, then pushes him down. Sami goes up the corner, talks trash to Logan, then leaps for an AX HANDLE! Cover, TWO! Sami argues the count, brings Ricochet up and whips him to ropes to then CLOBBER him! Cover, TWO! Sami clamps onto Ricochet with a chinlock and leans on him. Ricochet fights up, throws body shots, and fires haymakers! Ricochet runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirl RANAS!

Fans fire up with Ricochet again as Sami goes to a corner. Ricochet runs in but misses! Ricochet elbows back to go up, but Sami SHOVES Ricochet down! Ricochet hits barriers and The Bloodline cheers while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Sami has Ricochet down in the ring now. Sami goes up top but Ricochet springs up after him! They fight up top, Sami HEADBUTTS Ricochet down! Sami adjusts, leaps, but into Ricochet’s DROPKICK! Both men are down and fans fire up! Ricochet and Sami stir and get to their feet. Sami swings but Ricochet counter punches! And again! And then Ricochet KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Ricochet whips, Sami reverses but Ricochet RANAS! Logan fires up with Ricochet and Ricochet runs in to RAM into Sami! Sami staggers, Ricochet springboard CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!

Fans fire up and Ricochet aims from the corner. Ricochet runs in but no Recoil! Sami elbows Ricochet, whips him to ropes, but Ricochet reverses to sweep the legs! STANDING MOONSAULT onto knees! Sami cradles, TWO!! Ricochet escapes and Heyman is beside himself! Heyman hits the desk hard enough to spill Michael Cole’s soda, which he points out, so Heyman just shakes the already empty cup all around! As for Sami, he drags Ricochet up, reels him in, but Ricochet fights the lift. Sami CLUBS Ricochet, back suplexes but Ricochet lands on his feet! Tiger Wall Kick and SUPERKICK! Sami is down and Ricochet raises his finger to the sky!

Ricochet goes up top, but Jimmy Uso distracts the ref! Ricochet hops down and runs Jimmy off, but Sami reels Ricochet in! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, but Logan distracts with his protest! Turnabout is fair play, the ref is late to the cover, TWO!! Logan grins then shrugs at Sami. Sami scowls, he sits Ricochet up and he throws haymakers! Sami runs, but into another RANA!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet hurries to stand Sami up and fireman’s carry! but Jey gets up now, so Ricochet DECKS him! Sami rolls Ricochet, TWO! Ricochet runs to V-TRIGGER! Jey tries again but he gets a triangle jump DROPKICK!

Sami reels Ricochet in, HALF ‘N’ HALF! Cover, Jey wants in but the ref keeps him out! This is costing Sami!! The ref returns to count, TWO!! Sami can’t believe it! He looks at Jey who seethes about Logan, but Jey says Sami just has to handle his business. Sami storms out of the ring to get in Jey’s face! Jimmy keeps the peace but Ricochet FLIES in!! Direct hit on Sami AND the Usos! Ricochet puts Sami in, hurries up top, and fans fire up for the SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! Cover, Ricochet wins!

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

Logan celebrates with Ricochet, but now the Usos and Solo storm up to the apron. But wait! Here comes MAD CAP MOSS! And he has a chair! Riddick is ready for Solo and his shot at the North American Championship, is Solo ready for Riddick?

 

Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux speak.

“The hands of time decide the judgement. And last week, for The Chosen One, Mr. McIntyre, he was publicly executed by the newly appointed People’s Executioner. And how rightfully so. It is appropriate considering he made those pitiful noises with my arm wrapped around his neck.” Scarlett adds, “Aw, poor baby.” The two laugh, and Kross says, “What did you do then, Mr. McIntyre? I mean, you fought back, but then you did what everybody always does: you let it go. And that is the biggest difference between you and I, and it always will be. Because I don’t let anything go. I change the timelines. I rewrite history.

“And as for you, you are going to remain on an endless loop of suffering that I control. And I’m going to make sure,  Mr. McIntyre, that you never get out. Tick-tock.” Will Mr. Doomsday make McIntyre relive his worst moments? Or will the Scottish Warrior smash Kross’ hourglass to pieces?

 

Please welcome Max and Maxxine Dupri.

The founders of Maximum Male Models stand in the ring and Max welcomes us back to SmackDown in Anaheim. “Only a stone’s flow away from LA.” Maxxine tells him not to focus on that. Right, they’re not here for Hollywood. They’re here to introduce the MMM Back to School collection. Maçé and Mansôör look like Steve Buscemi pretending to be a high school student… But here comes BRAUN!! The Monster Among Men BULLDOZES the male models! He RAMS Mace into the barriers! And then he drags Mansoor up to TOSS him down the ramp! Mace crawls away but Braun lets him go to drag Mansoor up and TOSS into the ring!

Braun steps up into the ring, grabs Mansoor again, and Mansoor begs for mercy! He doesn’t get mercy, he GETS THESE HANDS! Fans are thunderous as Braun drags Mansoor up, reels him in, and hits a POWERBOMB! But “SHOOSH! Shoosh please!” Chad Gable heads out? He’s telling Braun to shoosh, but where is Otis? Otis gets in and CLOBBERS Braun from behind! But Braun CLOBBERS Otis right back! Gable gets in to fire off hands but Braun CLUBS him down! Braun scoops Gable but Otis RAMS into Braun! Otis fires off haymakers! Otis runs to SPLASH, then he gets going to SPLASH again!

Braun staggers and Otis scoops for the WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM!! Braun sits up!?! Otis is leaving, thinking he’s conquered the Monster, but Braun just glares at him! Braun says Otis has hell to pay now! Gable tells Otis to stand down before this really gets wild. Will the Alpha Academy be able to plan a strategy to take down a furious Monster Among Men?

 

Damage Control is here!

Bayley and the NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky, can be on any brand they want now, so they’re here on SmackDown with Bayley ready to get in the ring! Bayley, Kai & Sky get mics and Bayley says, “Guess who’s back? Back again? YES! I’m back on SmackDown! Your Role Model, the longest reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion in history. Uh, ding dong, hello.” Fans are torn but Bayley continues, “And in case you’ve been living under a rock, this is Dakota Kai and this is Iyo Sky, your NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions!” Fans are torn here, too.

Dakota says that means they can go to any brand, any time, and do anything they want! Iyo says SmackDown is now THEIR show! Bayley says that’s right! They destroyed Raquel and put poor little Aliyah on the shelf. This is what greatness looks right, alright? This is what it looks like when you do what you said you were gonna do, instead of wait for someone else to do it for you! What DMG CTRL has is something fans all crave but will never get, cuz you suck, and that’s POWER. The power to win titles! The power to determine the future! The power to plow through- Raquel is here! Big Mami Cool has a mic to say, “I don’t see greatness at all.”

What Raquel sees is three bullies that hurt her tag partner, and are powerless to stop her from getting revenge! Raquel storms in, DMG CTRL bails out, and Bayley is upset with Maggle. But Bayley has no choice but to face Raquel 1v1, after the break.

Bayley w/ Damage Control VS Raquel Rodriguez!

SmackDown returns, the bell rings, and Bayley is wary of Raquel. They circle, Bayley ends up cornered, so she has no choice but to tie up. Raquel TOSSES Bayley to a corner, but Bayley dodges and SLAPS Raquel. Raquel grins and chases Bayley out of the ring! Bayley hurries away to where Kai & Sky are, and they keep Raquel back. The ref reprimands them all, but Raquel POUNCES Sky into Kai! That happens a lot. Raquel chases Bayley back into the ring but Bayley kicks her away. Bayley goes to dropkick but Raquel blocks and ROCKS Bayley! Raquel gets in the ring to POUNCE Bayley! Then she SPLASHES in the corner!

Raquel scoops Bayley to then LAWN DART her off a corner! And then scoops again for a SPIN-OUT POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Raquel keeps her coo, and she sees Bayley go to the apron. Raquel runs to the corner to go up and out, but Bayley avoids the stomp! Bayley gets Raquel in the ropes, HOTSHOT STUNNER, and then a BOOT! Raquel falls to the floor, Kai & Sky taunt her, and the ring count climbs. Raquel gets in at 5 of 10 but Bayley’s right on her! Bayley hammers and stomps then CLUBS Raquel. Kai & Sky cheer Bayley but fans boo. Bayley whips but Raquel blocks and reverses. Bayley ducks ‘n’ dodges but runs into a scoop!

Bayley slips off this time and Raquel ends up in the corner. Bayley RAMS into Raquel, but Raquel uses that to TOSS Bayley away! Raquel BOOTS Bayley down, then drags her to a drop zone! Raquel goes up but Kai & Sky distract. Bayley gets up and trips Raquel up! Raquel is in the ropes, Bayley elbows her into a Tree of Woe, and then she KNEES Raquel’s leg! Cover, TWO!! Raquel is still in this but Bayley stalks Raquel. Bayley CLUBS Raquel down, DRAGON SCREWS the leg and covers, TWO! Raquel crawls to a corner but Bayley is after her. Bayley stomps the bad leg but lets off as the ref counts.

Bayley puts the bad leg in the ropes but the ref reprimands. Bayley pulls on the leg but lets off at 4. Fans boo but Kai & Sky cheer. Raquel hobbles away but Bayley gets the bad leg again. Bayley trips Raquel but Raquel kicks away at her! Bayley goes for the leg again but Raquel tries to backslide. Bayley mule kicks the bad leg! And BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Cover, TWO! DMG CTRL keeps cool as Raquel goes to a corner. Bayley storms up and fires off body shots. Kai & Sky mock Raquel while Bayley ROCKS her. Bayley backs off to run in, but into both Raquel’s hands! Raquel lifts Bayley to BUCKLE BOMB her!

Raquel fires off hands, then drags Bayley out to HEABUTT her down! Bayley gets up but Raquel runs her over with shoulders and lariats! Fans fire up with Raquel and she hits a FALL AWAY SLAM! Raquel hurries after Bayley to scoop again, for another FALL AWAY SLAM! Bayle is in the drop zone, Raquel goes up, but Sky distracts while Kai saves Bayley. Raquel BOOTS Sky, and drags Kai into the ring! Bayley gets in but Raquel BOOTS her down! And then she SLAMS Kai onto Bayley! Raquel goes up now, for a TWISTING VADER! A two-for-one but now the ref is busy with Kai! Sky RAKES Raquel’s eyes!!

Bayley hurries to hit the ROSE PLANT!! Cover, Bayley wins!!

Winner: Bayley, by pinfall

Huge assists from Kai & Sky, but now DMG CTRL mugs Raquel! But here comes SHOTZI!! The wild child may not like Aliyah or Raquel, but she doesn’t like any of these three, either! Shotzi YANKS Kai out, DECKS Sky and chases off Bayley! Fans fire up as an unlikely ally comes to Raquel’s rescue! Will DMG CTRL lose control soon enough?

 

Kayla Braxton has a sit-down interview with Ronda Rousey.

The Baddest Woman on the Planet is the #1 contender to the SmackDown Women’s Championship, getting a rematch with Liv Morgan at Extreme Rules on October 8th. Last time, things ended in a controversial fashion, so surely Ronda hopes Extreme Rules is a different story. “Well, with all due respect, there’s not going to be any controversy this time. Speak of the devil.” Liv Morgan walks in! She asks to take over for Kayla and Kayla obliges. Liv sits down with Ronda now and Liv says she’s never met anyone that says words that mean nothing more than Ronda. Ronda said, “With all due respect,” but we know Ronda doesn’t respect Liv.

Ronda says she said “with all due respect” even though Liv is due none. Liv says she is literally the only person on the planet to defeat Ronda twice, so if there’s anyone she should respect, it’s her. But no, instead Ronda says the same things Liv’s heard her entire career. Liv isn’t good enough. Liv doesn’t deserve to be champion. But last time Liv checked, both times, Ronda’s shoulders were on the mat, Liv’s arm was raised, and this title was put on Liv’s waist. But Liv knows nothing she says will make Ronda respect her, so Liv will do what she’s done her entire career: she’ll earn that respect. The only way to do that is to beat Ronda again.

So when Liv defends her title at Extreme Rules, she wants Ronda in an EXTREME RULES MATCH!! Ronda takes Liv seriously this time. They both lean in close, and Ronda smirks. Liv wants Extreme Rules with Ronda? “It’s your funeral.” Ronda leaves while Liv sits back. Is Liv crazy for wanting this match? Or is she crazy like a fox?

 

Drew McIntyre gets up on the commentary table!

The Scottish Warrior appears from the crowd to surprise everyone, and he says, “Congratulations, Karrion Kross. You finally got my attention. I’ve been waiting for ya backstage all day long, but it seems if you’re not jumping me from behind, you don’t have the balls to face me like a man! So I’m gonna ask you: do me a favor, do yourself a favor. Finally grow a set, step up to Drew McIntyre, and I’m gonna make you a promise right now. You talk about your tick-tock, you’re so obsessed with time, time is running out for you! And the only countdown you need to worry about is three. Two. One! Lights out!” McIntyre has put Kross on notice, is Kross wishing he hadn’t taken up any of McIntyre’s time?

 

The Usos and Sami talk with Solo backstage.

It’s Solo’s time! Time to represent the Bloodline, but he already knows that. Always! Solo’s gonna go out there and handle business! They’ll be there to have his back! Let’s go get it, Uce! Solo has them hold on. He’s got this. Jey’s off his game today, Solo’s gonna bring Sami. Oh, well! Let’s go, Uce! Sami accompanies Solo, will the Honorary Uce make sure Solo handles Mad Cap?

NXT North American Championship: Solo Sikoa VS Mad Cap Moss!

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Solo defends the NXT gold on the Island of Relevancy!

SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Solo and Moss square up and circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Moss uses his height as leverage. The two break, and fans rally up. Solo and Moss circle again, tie up, and are in another deadlock. They break again, and Moss shoves Solo. Solo snarls, swings, but into Moss’s waistlock. Solo resists the lift, pries at the hold, and he throws a back elbow. Solo gets free, but Moss ROCKS him with a forearm! Moss knees low, knees him again, then runs, only for Solo to CLOBBER him! Fans fire up as Solo PENALTY KICKS Moss down! Solo snarls and pushes Moss down to run and FALLING HEADBUTT!

Solo talks smack on Moss, fans are torn, but Moss throws body shots. Solo HEADBUTTS Moss, CHOPS him against ropes, then whips him to ropes. Moss ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Solo! Moss runs again to clothesline Solo up and out! Solo lands on his feet but he staggers around. Sami checks on Solo while Moss eggs Solo on. Moss goes out to fetch Solo, and he smacks Solo off the desk! Moss backs Sami down, but Solo CLOBBERS Moss! Sami talks some smack now, and Solo drags Moss up to RAM him into barriers! Solo drags Moss up as Sami cheers him on. Solo gets in the ring, runs up and WHEEL KICKS Moss down!

Solo looms over Moss while fans rally up. Solo grabs Moss’s legs and stomps him in the stomach! #WeTheOnes but fans boo. Solo throws down hands then stomps Moss around. Sami rallies for Solo while fans are still torn. Cover, TWO, but Solo keeps cool. Solo CHOPS Moss on the back, then clamps on claws into the shoulders. Moss endures while fans rally and duel. Moss fights up and throws body shots. Solo knees low, then ROCKS Moss with haymakers. Solo whips Moss corner to corner hard, then gets a BELLY2BELLY on the return! Moss flounders away and Solo smirks as he nods to Sami.

Solo watches Moss go to the corner and fans chant, “UCE! OH!” Solo runs in to HIP ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Moss is still in this but Solo keeps focus. “This is it?” But Moss ROCKS Solo! And again! And again! Solo ROCKS Moss with an uppercut! Moss staggers away and Solo fires off in the corner! The ref counts as Solo stomps the mudhole in, but Solo lets off at 4. Sami talks trash on Moss and Solo goes corner to corner again. “UCE! OH!” Solo runs in but Moss CHOP BLOCKS Solo! Both men are down but Moss pushes up. Solo throws hands but Moss counter punches! And again and again and again!

Moss whips, Solo reverses but Moss CLOBBERS Solo! And again! Moss ducks a haymaker to FLAPJACK Solo down! Moss fires up and Sami freaks out, but Moss runs corner to corner to RAM into Solo! And he keeps moving to RAM into Solo again! Moss turns Solo but Solo powers out of the Punchline to SUPER- NO! Moss blocks the kick to POP-UP SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Solo survives and Sami can breath again! Moss grits his teeth while fans rally up. Moss brings Solo up and tries to suplex, but Solo wrenches out to ELBOW and HEADBUTT! Moss wobbles, Solo fireman’s carries him, but Moss fights free!

Moss fires off elbows, then RAMS Solo into a corner! Moss keeps moving, but he runs into the SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Moss survives but Sami coaches Solo on. Solo stomps Moss again and again, then he drags Moss up again. Solo reels Moss in, but Moss fights the Urenage to a roll-up! TWO!! Moss runs in, but into an elbow! Solo runs, but into Moss’s arms! FALL AWAY SLAM! Fans fire up with Moss and he runs corner to corner, but Sami saves Solo! The ref reprimands and fans boo, but Moss rushes out to run Sami off! They go around the ring, into the ring, and Solo SUPERKICKS! Moss wobbles, Solo hits the URENAGE! Cover, Solo wins!

Winner: Solo Sikoa, by pinfall (still NXT North American Champion)

The Honorary Uce does his part, and he helps Solo stay golden! Will The Bloodline continue to run all the brands with this kind of support system?

 

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The New Day VS The Brawling Brutes VS Hit Row VS Imperium!

Well, wait, except for The New Day, these are all different teams than the match-up we saw last week. Perhaps the damage done by the Monster Among Men has something to do with it. Will we see this match actually finish and give one team the golden tickets to the tag title match?

The teams sort out, and in this type of Fatal 4 Way Tag, two teams are legal at any time, so we start with the Impeccable German, Ludwig Kaiser, and the Bruiserweight, “Butch” Pete Dunne! They’re raring to go and fire off at the bell! Fans fire up for the haymakers and forearms going back and forth! Dunne ROCKS Ludwig, blocks the kick to ENZIGURI Ludwig out! Dunne just rushes out after him! Dunne has a guillotine, but the Pride of Italy, Giovanni Vinci, rushes over! Vinci CLOBBERS Dunne, but big Ridge Holland CLOBBERS him back! That brings the leaders of Imperium and the Brawling Brutes over, Gunther and Sheamus stare down!

Woods tries to keep the peace but thinks better of it seeing the look in both men’s eyes. Meanwhile, Hit Row takes the initiative! Top Dolla picks up Ashante THEE Adonis to TOSS him onto the Brutes and Imperium! Fans fire up and Dolla wants it! Dolla builds speed, but Vinci CHOP BLOCKS him! Xavier Woods gets in to BOOT Vinci, then Woods builds speed! Woods FLIES onto the Brutes and Ludwig! And yet, Sheamus and Gunther are still staring down. Kofi uses Dolla as a booster to FLY onto the Brutes and Ludwig, too! The New Day is all fired up and fans clap along, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Dunne bends Ludwig’s fingers as he gets out of the chinlock! Fans rally, Ludwig kicks low and throws Dunne into the ropes! Then he PENALTY KICKS Dunne down! Cover, ONE!! Dunne is tough but Ludwig clamps on with a chinlock. Ludwig also traps an arm but Dunne fights with fists! Dunne stands up, he powers up and out, things speed up and Dunne hurdles to drop and CLOBBER Ludwig! Gunther is upset but Dunne drags Ludwig around. Dunne hammerlocks an arm, grabs the other, and he grins as he bends the fingers back! Everyone is wincing from that! Dunne isolates the bad arm to then STOMP it!

Ridge and Sheamus are loving this, and Dunne basement dropkicks Ludwig! Ludwig gets up, Dunne ROCKS him! Ridge tags in, Dunne feeds Ludwig to Ridge’s double underhooks! SHOTGUN BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Ridge drags Ludwig up, but Ludwig ROCKS him! Ridge choke grips back! Ludwig pushes Ridge to the ropes and claws at his eyes! The ref backs Ludwig down, and that allows Vinci a cheap shot! Ludwig tags Vinci and whips Ridge, and Vinci arm-drags Ridge to an armlock! Fans boo Vinci but Ridge headscissors. Vinci pops free to roll Ridge to his feet, and then Vinci EuroUppers!

Vinci CHOPS Ridge, and CHOPS him again! Vinci whips, Ridge reverses, but Vinci blocks the hip toss! However, Ridge blocks Vinci’s hip toss in return, and then traps both arms! Ridge HEADBUTTS Vinci, for an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Dolla tags off Vinci and now the biggest men in this match stare down! Fans fire up, Ridge runs and RAMS Dolla, but Dolla stays up! They RAM again, but still Dolla stays standing. So Ridge throws EuroUppers! Ridge tries to suplex but Dolla is too big! Dolla suplexes Ridge up and over instead! Tag to Adonis, he runs the ropes and Dolla gives him a boost, FLAPJACK SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Adonis rains down fists on Ridge, clamps on a chinlock, but Ridge fights up! Ridge throws a body shot, back suplexes, but Adonis slips off to AIR DROP! Kofi tags in off Ridge! Dunne doesn’t like how sharp that tag was but Woods stares him down. Fans fire up as Kofi and Adonis circle. Kofi dodges the haymaker to run and LEAPING LARIAT! Kofi runs for the NEW~ DAY~ BOOM DROP! Fans fire up more but Ludwig tags in off Adonis! Ludwig grabs Kofi by his hair, and POSTS him! Tag to Vinci and they stick Kofi in the ropes. Vinci slides out while Ludwig goes side to side, they meet at the corner with the DOUBLE DROPKICKS!

Vinci and Ludwig strike the Imperium pose while fans boo, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Ludwig has Kofi down in a cobra twist. Fans rally as Kofi endures and fights up. Ludwig facelocks but Kofi fires body shots! Ludwig CLUBS Kofi down! Ludwig puts Kofi in the corner, then goes side to side again, but Kofi fights out! Kofi dumps Ludwig AND Vinci out of the ring! Kofi hurries for the New Day corner, but Ludwig intercepts! Kofi back drops Ludwig! Hot tags to Woods and Vinci! Woods rallies on Vinci, whips him to ropes but Vinci reverses, only for Woods to duck, dodge, slide and ROLLING ELBOW! Ludwig returns but Woods BOOTS him from the corner! HONOR ROLL!

Adonis runs in but into a mule kick! Dunne goes up top, leaps in, but Woods gets him, too! COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO!! Vinci waistlocks to back suplex but Woods lands on his feet! Woods tilt-o-whirls and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS! Woods kips up and fans fire up! Woods fireman’s carries Vinci for a LANDSLIDE! Cover, TWO!! Woods fires up more and he CHOPS Vinci! And scoops, but Vinci slips off. Vinci blocks the kick, and short arm LARIATS Woods down! Sheamus rallies the Brutes and Dunne tags in off Vinci! Dunne dropkicks Woods, GAMANGIRIS Adonis, GAMANGIRIS Dolla, then KNEE DROPS Woods!

Dunne goes up and out to ASAI MOONSAULT on Imperium! Dunne keeps on moving and he gets back on the apron, FLYING KNEE for Kofi! Adonis tags in off Woods but he runs into a SNAP GERMAN from Dunne! Sheamus rallies behind Dunne and he STOMPS the hands! Then BUZZSAWS Adonis down! Dunne glares as Dolla gets in, and fans fire up! Dolla is big but Dunne is mean! Dunne CHOPS, but Dolla shoves and BOOTS him! Kofi runs in, but Dolla pops him to a fireman’s carry! Dolla SMACKS Dunne with Kofi’s boots, then double stacks them! Woods runs in, he jumps into Dolla’s arms! Dolla carries three men around!

Dolla DUMPS Dunne then POWERSLAMS Woods and Kofi! Fans fire up but Ridge tags in! Ridge LARIATS, then scoops Dolla! But Dolla slips off and reels Ridge in! But Ridge resists the lift to Alabama Lift Dolla! ALABAMA SLAMA!! Cover, TWO!! Dolla survives and no one can believe it! Woods tags in off Ridge, Adonis runs in, and they fire off forearms! “This is Awesome!” as Adonis runs, but Woods ROCKS him! Adonis runs but into a SUPERKICK! Woods reels Adonis in, Kofi tags in and Kofi DIVES to send Dolla over the desk!! Woods hits a FALCON ARROW and Kofi is up top! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, Dunne breaks it!!

Woods tosses Dunne out then PLANCHAS to take him out! Vinci tags off Adonis while Ludwig RAMS Woods into steps! Vinci waistlocks Kofi for an O’Conner Roll, TWO! Kofi has it now, TWO!! Vinci escapes, scurries away but Ludwig anchors Kofi. Vinci CLOBBERS Kofi, whips him and SPINEBUSTERS! PENALTY KICK from Ludwig! Imperium sets Kofi up, Ludwig tags as he climbs up. But Ridge sneaks a tag in before the IMPERIAL BOMB!! Ridge then TOSSES Ludwig out! Ridge covers, the BRUTES WIN!!

Winners: The Brawling Brutes, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)

Sheamus celebrates with his fellas as they now have those golden tickets! Their opportunity is next week, will Ridge the Fridge and “Butchy” cash in and take those titles from The Usos?


My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown to keep things moving towards Extreme Rules. For one, a pretty good “interview turned confrontation” promo from Ronda and Liv. While WWE’s been doing their best to show Ronda as the anti-establishment Face, and is slowly morphing Liv into some kind of Heel, I feel like they both came off rather equally here. You could say either one is the Face and either one is the Heel, and I think it’d be believable. But Liv calling for the Extreme Rules is definitely so that she can use every weapon she can think of on Ronda. Now, I fear that will end up with Ronda being booked as invincible, where nothing Liv does can stop her. At the same time, I can’t see Liv winning against Ronda three times in the same year, so I suppose Ronda has to win here.

Meanwhile, WWE is also clearly planning ahead for Crown Jewel. Logan Paul would not be my choice, but perhaps the Saudi princes want Roman Reigns, one of the biggest names in pro-wrestling, against one of the biggest, most sensationalized names outside of pro-wrestling in Logan Paul. And I will say, Logan had a great segment with the Bloodline, and it did get me to want to see Roman VS Logan, so that we can see Roman SMASH Logan! Ricochet also had a great match against Sami Zayn, and how that turned out helped influence Solo VS Moss, which was also a great match. Solo choosing Sami over both his actual brothers is a nice twist in the story, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

But speaking of what happens next, we got an awesome Fatal 4 Way main event, but I’m very surprised by the audible they called. Instead of the exact rematch we were promised, we ended up with three completely different teams, and The New Day. For those wondering why The Viking Raiders, after beating The New Day in that Viking Rules Match, weren’t in this at all, Erik injured his foot during said Viking Rules Match so he and Ivar are sidelined again. They have had some really rough luck in the WWE, honestly. Neither Los Lotharios and Street Profits being involved is confusing, though.

But I suppose since they changed this from “winners face Usos at Extreme Rules” to “winners face Usos next Friday,” it makes sense now that the Brawling Brutes get an opportunistic win. The Brutes are definitely not winning against The Usos, even with the bit of dysfunction going on in The Bloodline. This then saves a few ideas for Extreme Rules and beyond. The Alpha Academy apparently shifted gears last minute to feuding with Braun exclusively, so that’s why they weren’t part of this. Though, Otis VS Braun is going to be some great stuff so it’s not so bad. Braun blasting the Maximum Male Models was great, too, actually, and I really liked the subtle lingering on “LA” for Max Dupri, AKA LA Knight.

Good stuff from DMG CTRL and Raquel, but of course Bayley won with help from Kai & Sky. Shotzi turning Face here is great, I always felt she was better as Face. There can be a moment of uncertainty for Raquel and Aliyah in accepting Shotzi as an ally, but this gives them a third woman for a 3v3 match against DMG CTRL on the SmackDown end. DMG CTRL clearly wants to show that the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships are “traveling titles” once again, so between NXT stars occasionally showing up on RawDown and RawDown stars occasionally visiting NXT, I would love to see DMG CTRL get real busy with title defenses.

And we got good promos from Kross and McIntyre to add some hype to their coming match. It was rather standard stuff, the Heel saying he’ll doom the Face and the Face calling out the Heel for being a chicken. Maybe next week, Kross accepts the dare and confronts McIntyre head-on. Then Extreme Rules can have a badass grudge match more or less on the level of Sheamus VS Gunther, which will be great for both men. Kross hasn’t been doing a lot of wrestling since his return, he’s clearly a big attraction type, so he really needs to start making up for Vince sabotaging him last time.

My Score: 8.6/10


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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:

 


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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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