Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (9/23/22)
Will the Brutes strike gold?
The Usos defend their titles against some UK grit!
Roman Reigns is back on SmackDown, just in time to see The Usos defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships against the Brawling Brutes!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Liv Morgan VS Lacey Evans; Liv wins.
- The New Day VS Maximum Male Models w/ Max & Maxxine Dupri; The New Day wins.
- Braun Strowman VS Otis w/ Chad Gable; Braun wins.
- Dakota Kai w/ Damage Control VS Raquel Rodriguez; Raquel wins.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: The Usos VS The Brawling Brutes; The Usos win and retain the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Bloodline is here!
Roman Reigns leads the way for Paul Heyman, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and the Honorary Uce, Sami Zayn! Sami’s the only one who didn’t get the brand new “We The Ones” shirt, apparently. The belts are raised and the pyro goes off, then the Bloodline continues down to the ring. Then the belts are raised again for the second round of pyro. Heyman takes hold of Roman’s belts to then hand over the mic. Fans are torn as Roman says, “Salt Lake City… ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” There are plenty of fingers raised to the skies and Heyman gets the mic back.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman.” And what do we call people from Utah? Utans? Utonians? Utobies? U? Let’s settle for, “Salt Lake Citians.” Fans don’t think that’s good enough. Uh, don’t boo the Wise Man. There are a lot of items on the checklist tonight. Number one: as you notice, STILL the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of All Sports Entertainment, the Tribal Chief, Roman… Reigns. And everyone says, “Oh, poor Drew McIntyre. It was his time, it was his turn, it was his moment, it was his home turf.” WRONG. Neither Wales, Scotland or anywhere on the planet is McIntyre’s home turf.
The entire planet, the entire universe, the entire multiverse, the entire Metaverse belongs to the Island of Relevancy. And sitting on the throne is the Tribal Chief, Roman… Reigns! So now that McIntyre has another bridge to cross, let’s talk about Solo Sikoa. “Oh, how I wish I could brag that this was the Wise Man’s most brilliant coup, but it wasn’t my idea. It wasn’t the Tribal Chief’s idea. And while some people might like to take credit for being their idea…” Heyman looks at Sami. “No, the idea for Solo is that Solo was sent by the Elders of the Samoan Dynasty.
“Solo was sent because Brock Lesnar took out The Wise Man. Because the Usos have enough on their plate. And SOMEONE has to stop these conspiracies against YOUR Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, Roman… Reigns. And if you thought the Bloodline was unstoppable before, and we were, now there is an enforcer to ensure Roman’s reign on the throne of the Island of Relevancy, and that enforce is Solo! Which opens up Jimmy & Jey Uso to concentrate on their pursuit of greatness, on their pursuit of history. It opens up the Usos and their pursuit of immortality.”
Jimmy says it’s the Usos VS the Brutes, and tonight, he guarantees you’ll hear “STILL Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions!” Jey says, “All day! Cuz you the twos! And WE! THE…” “ONES!” Jey stops short, and hands the mic back to Roman. Fans cheer Roman on as he thinks of what to say. “Solo.” Solo steps up. Roman looks at his youngest cousin, and says The Elders may have sent him, but Solo answers to Roman now. #AcknowledgeMe. Solo takes the mic to say, “I acknowledge you, My Tribal Chief.” Fans are torn on that but Sami and Heyman are happy as Solo and Roman hug it out. Their power, their dominance, and their loyalty runs deep.
But wait, Sami wants to say something now? He just wants a moment, sorry. Jey is upset but fans cheer Sami on. Sami knows he’s not blood, but the way they took him in like a family, he just wants to show his gratitude. And also, Sami wants to publicly acknowledge his Tribal Chief. Sami hands the mic over to Roman, and then calls for something. Heyman calls for another mic and hands it to Sami. Fans cheer Sami and Roman smirks. “I like you, Sami. But what’re you talking for right now? Why’re you saying anything right now? I get it, I’m seeing what’s happening her, but like… Why do you have our shirt on?”
Roman asks why Sami has a Bloodline shirt. Why is Sami tagging along with them? What does Sami want? Here’s what Roman wants. Sami needs to take the shirt off. Fans boo but Jey says, “TAKE THE SHIRT OFF!” Sami says he isn’t sure if Roman’s kidding or not. If this is about what happened with Logan Paul, Sami can explain. Just don’t be rash. Roman says last week, when Sami disrespected Heyman, right? “Sami, I’m not gonna tell you again. Take our shirt off. Now.” Jey says yeah! Take the shirt off! Fans boo and Sami is dejected, but then Jey RIPS the shirt off!
This is what Roman was talking about. Sami needs to listen for once. Sami should never wear that shirt ever again. Sami ain’t ever wearing another Bloodline shirt ever again. And that’s cuz they got him a new one. Roman throws Sami his own HONORARY UCE SHIRT! Now Jey’s upset. Fans cheer for Sami as he puts on the official merch! Sami does the handshake with Jimmy and he hugs Solo. Roman asks if there’s anything Sami wants to say now. Yes! There is, actually! Sami ACKNOWLEDGES the Tribal Chief! And then he hugs Roman! Roman is unsure but still amused, and he hugs Sami back. So again, their power, their dominance, and their loyalty runs deep. Will this be just the thing that keeps The Bloodline on top of the WWE?
Liv Morgan VS Lacey Evans!
The SmackDown Women’s Champion is once defending her title against Ronda Rousey, and is once again the underdog. However, she’s counteracting that by making their match an EXTREME RULES MATCH! Will taking on the Model Soldier be a great tune-up for that brutal battle? Or will Lacey use her Woman’s Right to prove Liv’s not ready?
The bell rings and Liv ties right up with Lacey. Lacey puts Liv in a corner, pie faces her and talks trash, but Liv SLAPS Lacey back! Lacey shoves Liv, kicks her, wrenches and whips but Liv reverses. Lacey jumps over the drop down and blocks a kick to trip Liv and throw a body shot! Lacey talks more trash, rolls Liv to her feet, but Liv dodges the elbow to whip. Things speed up but Lacey BOOTS Liv out of the air! Lacey says Liv ain’t extreme. Lacey drags Liv up, says she’s weak, and then bumps her off buckles. Lacey GRINDS Liv’s face off the ropes! The ref counts, the fans boo, but Lacey bumps Liv off buckles.
Lacey goes again but Liv blocks! Lacey throws Liv but Liv SHOTGUNS Lacey to the corner! Liv whips corner to corner, runs in and SHINING WIZARDS! Liv runs and returns but Lacey slips out! Liv hits buckles, Lacey ROCKS Liv and sweeps the leg! Lacey soaks up the heat from Salt Lake City, stalks Liv and snapmares her down. Lacey clamps on a half nelson and shifts to a cobra clutch. Liv endures, even as Lacey digs her chin into Liv’s forehead. Liv fights up as fans rally, but Lacey drags Liv through ropes for a KNEE! Liv swings but Lacey counter punches and sweeps the legs again! Fans boo but Lacey mocks “Extreme Liv.”
Lacey slingshots but Liv avoids the stomp! Lacey blocks the knee to shoulder into Liv! Lacey then POSTS Liv and Liv falls to the floor! Fans boo but Lacey grins while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Lacey has Liv down with a chinlock. Lacey headstands to put all her weight on Liv, then drops the knees into Liv’s side! Lacey then returns to the cobra clutch. Liv SLAPS Lacey, so Lacey hammers down forearms! Lacey drags Liv up to TOSS her to a corner! Liv sits up and Lacey drags her back up. Lacey TOSSES Liv again! Lacey says Liv will never be extreme! But Liv eggs Lacey on! So Lacey BOOTS her down! Cover, TWO! Lacey looms over Liv, drags her up and puts her in the corner. Lacey climbs up and uses a leg hook to crank Liv’s neck! Then she headscissors to a takedown, and does push-ups to show off!
Liv endures and fans boo, but Lacey pushes up to crank the hold, before driving Liv back down! Liv starts kicking Lacey! Lacey scrambles away to the corner and slips out of the ring to shake out the cobwebs. Lacey’s mad now, but she goes looking under the ring. Lacey grins as she brings out a broom! No, not good enough. She finds a kendo stick! Lacey says it’s time to get extreme! The ref says no, this is no disqualifications. Liv stands, ducks the swing and hits a CODE BREAKER! Lacey staggers, into ObLIVion!! Cover, Liv wins!
Winner: Liv Morgan, by pinfall
Lacey’s ego definitely went to extremes, and it cost her! Liv holds up the title, but then she sees the kendo stick. Liv grabs it, looms over Lacey, but she throws it down. Only to then pick it up and SMACK away on Lacey! Lacey bails out but Liv gives chase! Liv SMACKS Lacey, then uses the stick to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP Lacey into barriers! Liv shows she has that edge, and goes looking for something more. She brings out a TABLE! Fans fire up seeing that! Liv sets the table up, goes back for Lacey, and she puts Lacey on top of the wood. Liv SLAPS Lacey down then climbs up the corner! Liv aims, for a SUPER SENTON through the table!!!
“I’m ready for you, Ronda! Let’s get extreme!!” Liv is ready to live on the edge, will she use that to cut down the Baddest Woman on the Planet? Or will she take too big a risk and lose it all?
Hit Row has a party backstage.
This is how it should be. Almost. Because it’ll be a VIP watch party to watch the tag title match! Who y’all got? Whoever it is, Hit Row wants next. That’s right! They’ll toast their success and get that money money money money! They put their glasses in for the toast, but Montez Ford puts in his red Solo cup! Make sure to save some for the Street Profits! Heeeey! This is a great party, and the Profits are always ready~ ready~! But speaking of big nights, there’s also Otis VS Braun, so what’re y’all on? Hmm… What about you, Shinsuke? He votes BRAUN! HEEEEY! Everyone gets the bubbly, but who gets the buzz?
Sami Zayn reprimands the caterer.
The Honorary Uce doesn’t understand. If he asks for a vegan meal, get him a vegan meal! What’s this guy good for? Go, get outta here. Ugh. But then Sami turns around to see Ricochet and Riddick Moss. They say Sami has changed. Has he? Yeah. Before he was obnoxious and unbearable, and now he’s… Well, he’s still all that, but even more. Moss gets it, though. This is what happens when you take your head and shove it up Roman’s- Hey! Be careful what you say. You disrespect Sami, fine. But from now on, you’re not just disrespecting Sami, you’re disrespecting the ENTIRE Bloodline. Sami, c’mon. You think you’re an Honorary Uce, when in reality, you’re nothing more than-
BLAM! Solo Sikoa clobbers both of ’em! What you say?! HUH!? Solo dribbles Ricochet off the garage door! Then he rains hands on Moss! Sami has Solo let off, they understand now. Right, guys? You’re dealing with The Bloodline now! Good job, Uce. Sami was just about to get them. Sami and Solo head out, will Moss & Ricochet be more careful about making jokes?
Paul Heyman narrates on an Uso retrospective.
“For over a decade, Jimmy & Jey Uso have run roughshod over the competition. But it is their current championship reign that has cemented them as the greatest tag team in the world. It was 432 days ago when the Usos ended the father-son happiness of Rey & Dominik Mysterio, and in the process became the SmackDown Tag Team Champions. And then went on to decimate RKBRO to become the first-ever Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. The Usos have carved a path of historical dominance like never before.
“Now, the Usos stand on the precipice of history. Their epic championship reign has endured longer than some of the most legendary tag teams in WWE history. Longer than the Hart Foundation, longer than the Road Warriors, longer than the New Age Outlaws, longer than the Dudley boys. Only two teams remain: Demolition, and the New Day. And soon, the Usos will surpass them to become the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions of all time. And then, the halls of tag team immortality will ring out only one name…” “UUUU-SO~!”
The New Day VS Maximum Male Models w/ Max & Maxxine Dupri!
Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston may not have won the #1 contenders Fatal 4 Way, but THE longest reigning tag team knows how to climb the mountain. Will they do so again at the expense of Maçé & Mansôör? Or will MMM titillate even the juices of the New Day’s guilty pleasures?
The teams sort out and Woods starts against Mansoor. They tie up Mansoor headlocks, but Woods powers up and out. Mansoor just struts all over Woods and poses. But Woods waistlocks! Mace tags in before the O’Conner Roll, and Mace LEG LARIATS Woods down! Cover, TWO! Maxxine gets the camera and takes pics as Mace CLUBS and ROCKS Woods! Mace puts Woods in the corner, tags Mansoor, and they mug Woods. They double whip Woods, double elbow him down, then strike a pose! Fans boo but Mansoor drops an elbow! Mansoor clamps on a chinlock and grinds Woods down. Fans rally with “NEW! DAY ROCKS!”
Woods fights up, Mansoor CLUBS him and whips him, but Woods ROCKS Mace! And TOSSES Mansoor! Woods hurries for his corner but Max helps Mansoor up and in! Mace tags, he runs and KNEES Kofi down! Mace then scoops Woods and carries him around for the POWERSLAM! Mace climbs up to then ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Mace tags Mansoor, Maxxine wants a pose! They pose, she takes pics, but even Max says no, now is not the time for this. Kofi DROPKICKS Mace, proving Max right! Woods gets the BACKWOODS on Mansoor, the New Day wins!!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall
Max is upset with Mace & Mansoor and even Maxxine! They’re making a joke out of what he’s built! He throws off his jacket to whip it against the apron! Max storms off, leaving Maxxine and their clients stunned. Will MMM make a recovery from this embarrassment?
Hit Row & The Profits continue to party.
Drew Gulak’s even stopped by! And Natalya, Xia Li and Sonya Deville. But Los Lotharios interrupt the conversation Sonya and B-Fab were having just to flirt. But Dolla & Adonis walk over to stop Angel & Humberto right there. Angel & Humberto head out, and Dolla can’t believe what we’re about to see next!
Braun Strowman VS Otis w/ Chad Gable!
The ring crew has reinforced the ring because we’re about to see a clash of the titans! Will this match be proof that the Monster Among Men is truly back? Or will he fail the test put forward by the Alpha Academy’s number one student?
The bell rings and fans fire up as the two behemoths stare down. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock! Braun backs Otis down but then Otis backs Strowman down. Braun knees Otis then JABS him! Otis goes to a corner, Braun CHOPS! Braun TOSSES Otis across the ring! Otis stands up, and Braun SHOTGUNS Otis out of the ring!! Fans fire up and Braun sees Gable checking on Otis. Braun goes out, comes in around the way, but Gable ducks to be a speedbump! Braun glares at Gable, but Otis CLOBBERS Braun from behind! And RAMS him into barriers! The barriers move back! Otis then drags Braun up to POST him!
Gable says, “A THANK YEW~!” but fans boo. The ring count climbs, Otis puts Braun in at 6 of 10. Otis builds speed to DISCUS LARIAT Braun down! Cover, ONE!! Fans fire up and Gable coaches Otis to stay on Braun. Braun goes to a corner, Otis runs in, and Otis SPLASHES! Braun falls to his knees, and Otis CLUBS Braun down! Braun sits up but Otis CLUBS him down! Fans rally behind Braun and he stands, but Otis CLUBS him back down! Otis snarls, runs, but Braun hits a SPINEBUSTER! Both monsters are down but Otis rolls to the apron. Braun crawls after Otis but Otis slips away. Otis leans against the desk while Gable checks him.
Braun tries again, coming in from the other side! The Strowman Express POUNCES Otis onto the desk!! Fans are thunderous as the Academy is down! Braun drags Otis up, puts him in the ring, but Gable anchors a foot! Braun drags Gable up to TOSS him over barriers! Braun gets in the ring, he scoops Otis! Otis slips off, shoves Braun into a corner, and then Otis scoops Braun! WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM!! Cover, TWO!! Braun survives and Otis is furious! Otis goes up the corner, fans boo, but Otis jumps, VADER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Braun survives again and Otis can’t believe it! Fans rally for Braun while Otis tries to figure out what to do next.
Otis goes to another corner and he climbs up again. Braun is at center, Otis LEAPS but FLOPS!! Braun fires up and fans fire up with him! Braun reels Otis in, and Salt Lake City comes alive for the MONSTER BOMB!! Cover, Braun wins!
Winner: Braun Strowman, by pinfall
Monster Among Men no more, he’s the Monster of ALL MONSTERS! Braun is sore but he’s standing tall! Will he bulldoze his way all the way to the top of the mountain?
Backstage interview with The Brawling Brutes.
Sheamus is with Ridge Holland and “Butch” Pete Dunne, and they’re all excited for the main event tonight. Dunne says Friday Night SmackDown is FIGHT NIGHT! Ridge says tonight, they’ll batter the Usos and become the NEW Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions! Sheamus says that’s right, and as far as they’re concerned, the Usos face an uphill battle tonight. Them Brutes are made of sterner stuff. They love a good fight. Just ask Gunther after Sheamus dragged Gunther into the “belly of the red dragon.”
And in two week’s time, on the “season premiere” of SmackDown, it will be Sheamus VS Gunther, ROUND TWO! Absolute war in Worcester! And Sheamus vows to drag that Intercontinental Championship off Gunther’s cold, dead hands. But tonight, it’s not about Sheamy. It’s about Ridge & Butch becoming the tag team champions! Everyone knows when the Brutes step into the ring, they’ll get banger after banger after banger! The chant keeps going, but banger or not, will Ridge the Fridge and the Bruiserweight be the ones to defeat the ones?
Drew McIntyre is here!
Salt Lake City fires up as the Scottish Warrior makes his way out, and instead of Angela the sword, he’s got something rolled up in that hand of his. McIntyre goes to the ring, gets the mic, and he says, “Salt Lake City, let me hear ya scream!” The fans scream and shout for McIntyre and chant “DREW! DREW! DREW!” McIntyre says after all these years, we should all know him pretty well. And we should know he doesn’t like playing games, and if you’ve got an issue with him, just step in the ring and they can figure it out. But it seems Karrion Kross never got that memo. Besides the fact that Kross loves playing games, he’s not willing to face McIntyre like a man.
Kross keeps jumping McIntyre again and again, thinking there’s no repercussions. Well, McIntyre’s got news for Kross! McIntyre went straight to the top, and there’s good news for Kross, Kross is gonna have his first big match! It’ll be at Extreme Rules. Against Drew McIntyre. And it’s no ordinary match. You’re all wondering what McIntyre’s holding on to. Their match will be designed so that Kross can’t run away from McIntyre. “A match designed to inflict maximum pain.” McIntyre unrolls the item, and he says it is McIntyre VS Kross in a LEATHER STRAP MATCH!
But now Kross makes his entrance, Scarlett Bordeaux leading the way as always. But McIntyre knows what’s really going on, and he turns around to hit Kross first! They brawl, fans fire up, and McIntyre HEADBUTTS Kross, to then POST him! McIntyre gets that strap, he gets Kross’s wrist, and then wraps up his own wrist! Kross realizes what just happened, and McIntyre reels him in for a BOOT! And then he gathers up the slack to LASH Kross on the back! And again! Kross tries to retreat but McIntyre uses the strap to reel him in and LASH him again! Then he reels Kross in for a LARIAT! Fans fire up as McIntyre gathers even more slack.
But Scarlett shields Kross! McIntyre is many things but he doesn’t hit a lady. And then Scarlett throws her FIREBALL! Kross fires off hands but McIntyre still hits Kross, and whips him for a SPINEBUSTER! So Scarlett LOW BLOWS McIntyre! Fans boo but Kross smirks as he sits back up. Kross gets free of the strap and he steps over McIntyre. Mr. Doomsday goes to the ropes, but then changes his mind. KROSSJACKET!! McIntyre falls back, he’s fading out again! Kross says, “I’ll see you at Extreme Rules! I accept! This is exactly what we wanted, and you fell for it! Let it go. Let it go, Drew!” Will Kross keep his word and keep McIntyre in that time loop of torment?
Dakota Kai w/ Damage Control VS Raquel Rodriguez!
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and their Role Model, Bayley, are back to prove that they don’t just run Raw, they run the whole company! But will #CobraKai end up snake bit facing her old frenemy? Or can Dakota defeat Big Mami Cool and check a contender off the list?
The bell rings and Dakota rushes in, only for Raquel to RAM her into a corner! And again, and again! Raquel lets off, then scoops Dakota to SNAKE EYES her off buckles! Dakota flops down, Raquel is after her legs but Dakota kicks her away. Dakota BOOTS, but the scorpion kick is blocked into a STRETCH MUFFLER! Sky gets on the apron to shout at Raquel, but Raquel almost hits her with Dakota! Bayley distracts now, Raquel drops Dakota to chase Bayley off. SCPRION KICK! Raquel is down, Dakota BOOT WASHES her! Dakota digs her boot in, the ref counts, and Dakota lets off. But Bayley sucker punches Raquel!
HERE COMES SHOTZI! The Wild Child hits a THESZ PRESS on Bayley! Sky rushes in but Shotzi tackles her, too! Dakota is freaking out but Raquel rolls Dakota up! Raquel wins!!
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez, by pinfall
But then DMG CTRL mugs Shotzi! And Dakota keeps Raquel from helping as they RAM Shotzi into barriers! DMG CTRL then mug Raquel 3v1 while fans boo! Shotzi gets back in and she catches Bayley for the FISHERMAN DDT! Raquel BOOTS Dakota, Shotzi and Sky scrap! Shotzi tosses Sky out, and she stands with Raquel! The Ballsy & The Badass might be a new combo, but will they take those tag titles off Kai & Sky?
Hit Row’s party continues.
They like what they saw out of Raquel & Shotzi. Natty keeps bragging about herself. But then B-Fab spots Los Lotharios sneaking back in. She told them to- OH NO! Humberto CLOBBERS Adonis, and then they DOUBLE SUPERKICK Top Dolla! Los Lotharios run off but the Profits keep Dolla from chasing them down. Dolla says that’s the worst decision Los Lotharios ever made! Will Hit Row put Angel & Humberto on the top of their hit list?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: The Usos w/ Solo Sikoa & Sami Zayn VS The Brawling Brutes w/ Sheamus!
Jimmy & Jey may not agree on Sami Zayn’s place in the Bloodline, but they do agree that they are THE tag team in the WWE. Will they win like they have now, then and forever: together? Or will The Fella’s fellas, Ridge “The Fridge” and “Butch” Dunne end their reign once and for all?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the Brutes can cash in those golden tickets!
SmackDown returns, the teams sort out, and Dunne starts against Jey. Jey holds up the finger, #WeTheOnes, but Dunne ROCKS him at the bell! Dunne fires off in the corner, the ref counts, and Dunne lets off at 4. Jey gets up but runs into a drop toehold! Dunne hammerlocks an arm, stands on Jey’s head and then gets the other arm to bend the fingers! Jey endures as Dunne tortures his digits! Dunne isolates that arm, and he STOMPS it! Jey writhes but Dunne goes after the other arm. Tag to Ridge, Ridge and Dunne DOUBLE KNEE DROP the arms! Ridge whips, Jey reverses but Ridge holds ropes to BOOT back!
But then Jey distracts the ref so that Jimmy can ENZIGURI Ridge! Jey DECKS Ridge, fans are torn but Sami is fired up. Jey tags Jimmy, the Usos mug Ridge, and Jimmy CHOPS Ridge in the corner. And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Ridge flounders but Jimmy RAMS him into the corner. Tag to Jey, Jey taunts Dunne to then forearm smash Ridge! Jey runs but Ridge kitchen sink knees him! Ridge wrenches Jey’s arm, tags Dunne, and Dunne climbs up to KNEE DROP the bad arm! Dunne ROCKS Jimmy, brings him around, and with Ridge’s help, they throw down BEATS OF TEH BODHRAIN! Dunne then runs to BLAST Jimmy off the apron!
Fans are torn, Sami checks on Jimmy, but Dunne tags Ridge. Ridge CLUBS Jey’s arm, wrenches it again and tags Dunne back in. Jey ROCKS Ridge, then DECKS Dunne! But Ridge scoops Jey, only for Jey to slip off and shove Ridge out! Jimmy gets Dunne, pops him into the ring for Jey, but maybe too much as Dunne tumbles over and out the other side! Sami is fired up all the same but Sheamus backs him down. Jimmy & Jey fetch Dunne, but even Jey wants Sami to back up. Jey drags Dunne up to whip him hard into barriers! Sami dances on Dunne but again backs off as Jey storms over. Jey drags Dunne back up, puts him in the ring, and tags Jimmy.
The Usos double whip Dunne, then double SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives, that’s the toughness of a former NXT UK and Tag Team Champion. But even so, the Usos have control as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Jimmy whips Dunne to the Uso corner. Dunne BOOTS Jimmy, fires off hands on Jey, then also hits Jimmy! Fans are fired up as Dunne blocks a kick, spins Jimmy, but Jimmy DRAGON WHIPS! Cover, TWO! Dunne is still in this and the Usos are growing frustrated. Jimmy tags Jey, he drags Dunne up on the apron to DECK him! Dunne goes to the floor, Jey distracts the ref, and Sami does the dirty work, but is too slow! The ref sees him and has him back off. Sheamus warns Sami to not even. Jey is upset with Sami for not doing it right, and he drags Dunne up to put him in the ring.
Jey tells Sami needs to do better, but Dunne ENZIGURIS Jey! Jey flops against the ropes and both men are down! They both crawl, hot tags to Jimmy and Ridge! Ridge rallies with big shoulders and elbows! Jey runs in, Ridge blocks the punches to HEABUTT him! But Jimmy MULE KICKS and UPPPERCUTS! Jimmy whips, Ridge reverses to scoop and POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Jimmy survives, that’s the power of an Undisputed Tag Team Champion! Fans rally, Ridge runs in, but into an UPPERCUT! Dunne tags in before the SAMOAN DROP! SHINING WIZARD for Jimmy!! Cover, TWO!! Sami coaches the Usos but Dunne snarls at Jimmy.
Fans rally, Dunne drags Jimmy up, but Jimmy ROCKS Dunne! Dunne staggers, but he dumps Jimmy out! Jey tags in, but Dunne GAMANGIRIS him first! Dunne then ASAI MOONSAULTS Jimmy! Dunne gets back in the ring, he dodges Jey to SNAP GERMAN! And STOMPS the hands! BUZZSAW!! Cover, TWO!! Sami is freaking out but he coaches Jey. Jey is dazed, Sheamus is stressed but Dunne STOMPS Jey’s leg! Jey staggers, Jimmy tags in, Dunne runs, into a GAMANGIRI! SUPERKICK! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Ridge! Dunne BOOTS Jey! Dunne goes up, he MOONSAULTS, into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS!! Cover, TWO?!?!
Sami is furious! He argues with the ref, but Sheamus is loving this! Dunne stirs, drags himself over, and Salt Lake City is thunderous! “This is Awesome!” as the Usos regroup. They double whip Dunne, but he turns pop-up into a DDT!! Dunne hurries, Jey grabs a leg but Dunne grabs the fingers! Dunne wrenches, bends and SNAPS the fingers!! Hot tag to Ridge! Ridge Alabama Lifts but Jimmy tags in! Jimmy then BOOTS Ridge, Jey sunset flips, and the Usos regroup to DOUBLE- NO! Ridge gets under the kicks to lift them both!! DOUBLE BACK DROPS! Tag to Dunne, Ridge scoops Jimmy! Dunne ROUNDHOUSES into NORTHERN GRIT!! Cover, Jey breaks it in time!!!
Fans are losing their minds, and so is Sami! Sami hurries around to a spot at ringside, and he grabs a chair! But Sheamus grabs that from him! Solo steps up to back Sami up, but then IMPERIUM attacks! Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci are doing the dirty work for Der Ring General! Sheamus fights them off, but Gunther BOOTS Sheamus down himself! Imperium retreat as Ridge & Dunne rush out, but the Usos DOUBLE SUPERKICK them from the sides!! Jimmy puts Dunne in, tags Jey, and Jey reels Dunne in, ONE AND DONE!!! Cover, The Usos win!!
Winners: The Usos, by pinfall (still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions)
An assist to Sami, Solo and even Imperium here! But all the same, Jimmy & Jey continue their reign past 432 days! Will they continue until they surpass even the New Day’s 482 days? Will Sheamus avenge his Brutes when he goes after Gunther’s gold?
My Thoughts:
An awesome episode of SmackDown here with a lot of great stuff set up on this road to Extreme Rules. For one, Liv VS Lacey was a really good first match for tonight, and Liv really got to show some aggression. That super senton table spot was wild, I did not see that coming. But I feel like Liv just gave away her ace, and she will probably lose the title at Extreme Rules in the Extreme Rules match now. We got good segments out of Hit Row and their backstage party, and it of course helped set up a match between Hit Row and Los Lotharios. That will be a lot of fun, and at this point, it could go either way.
New Day VS MMM was okay, but of course New Day won that. I did like that part of what cost MMM was Maxxine wanting to take pics at the wrong time. Max getting mad at them all is also an interesting move, and I’m really hoping this means we’re getting closer and closer to Max returning to L A Knight, YEAH! Great match out of Strowman and Otis, but of course Strowman wins. I guess Strowman is just in a holding pattern until a singles title story opens up. Otherwise, he would’ve been the one to call out Roman for a title match by now, not this “Roman’s gonna face Logan Paul at Crown Jewel” thing.
We got a quick match out of Dakota and Raquel, but that’s because it was all to set up Shotzi as Raquel’s new partner while Aliyah is out hurt. There’s also good story potential that Aliyah returns soon and Raquel will have to decide if she’s still Aliyah’s partner or will challenge DMG CTRL with Shotzi by her side. Maybe they’ll be a trio to have a Six Woman Tag here on SmackDown to parallel what we’ve seen on Raw. Either way, it’ll be good stuff. And we got great stuff out of McIntyre, Kross and Scarlett. A strap match is an awesome choice, and we got a sampler of that tonight. Kross still stands tall thanks to Scarlett’s tricks, who knows how the PPV match actually goes.
And of course, we got awesome stuff out of The Bloodline at all levels. Great opening segment, Heyman of course giving another great speech. The shirt swerve with Sami was genius stuff, we got to see Jey play up both feeling vindicated by Roman’s treatment of Sami, and then his frustration when Roman was actually supportive of Sami. Sami and Solo also have a good segment with Moss and Ricochet to set up a match or two there. Solo against Ricochet or Moss solo would be great stuff, as would a tag match.
And of course, we got an awesome main event. Imperium interfering for their own interests was good story blending, and I figured Usos would retain anyway. The Brutes got to look excellent, even in defeat, and there’s a lot of heat going towards the Intercontinental Championship rematch of Sheamus and Gunther. The Usos now have a clean card for Extreme Rules, if the WWE chooses to give them a match. Not sure who would step up next, but I feel like Usos are going to be within days of breaking the record when they lose the belts. Fifty days can go by quickly in pro-wrestling, but that does make things line up with Crown Jewel on November 5th. If Usos retain past then, they’ll be the new #1 longest reigning champions ever.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/28/23)
It’s a battle of dark horses!
Who is THE Best of the Super Juniors?
NJPW’s 30th Best of the Super Juniors tournament comes to a close, and who would’ve bet on Master Wato VS Titán? So then, who do you think wins it all?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Togi Makabe & Boltin Oleg VS Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima; Makabe & Oleg win.
- Clark Connors VS Ryohei Oiwa; Connors wins.
- YOH & Lio Rush VS Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita; Yoh & Lio win.
- 10 Man Tag: The Intergalactic Jet Setters & Third Gen VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- Six Man Tag: Chaos VS The House of Torture; No Contest.
- 8 Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Ryusuke Taguchi VS El Desperado, Ren Narita, Shota Umino & Mike Bailey; Desperado, Narita, Shota & Bailey win.
- 8 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; LIJ wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 30 Finals: Titan VS Master Wato; Wato wins and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
8 Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Shota Umino, El Desperado, Ren Narita & Mike Bailey!
The Dream Trio NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions defeated #SHOOTER when he had a couple big Young Lions with him, but now the ante is upped! Will the Rainmaker, The Ace of the Universe, the Stone Pitbull and the Funky Weapon win as an iconic quartet? Or will the Rogue Luchador, the Son of Strong Style, and Speedball help the Roughneck redeem himself?
Fans cheer for Tanahashi’s abs, and then the teams sort out. Shota calls Okada out but Okada walks right to the corner. Therefore, Taguchi starts, but Shota pushes him aside to stare at Okada. Taguchi is rather disheartened in the neutral corner, but the fans rally for “TA-GU-CHI!” so that reencourages him. Shota still pushes him aside, and Taguchi is sad again. But the fans rally up again and Taguchi fires back up! Shota lets it go and instead, Mike Bailey starts. The bell rings and we get an A Block rematch as the two tie up. Mike wrenches an arm, Taguchi rolls and trips Mike and has a toehold.
Mike rolls over, stands up, facelocks back and then wrenches to a hammerlock and headlock takeover. Taguchi headscissors, Mike kips free, and fans cheer the standoff. The two go again, tie up, and Taguchi arm-drags! Mike trips Taguchi, things speed up, Mike handsprings up and over. Things keep moving, Mike hurdles then drops but Taguchi holds ropes to stop himself, and he avoids the roundhouse. Taguchi runs in, Mike dodges the hip attack, but then Taguchi dodges the clothesline. Mike dodges a clothesline, Taguchi runs but Mike KICKS the hip attack! Fans fire up and Mike DROPKICKS Taguchi down!
Mike brings Taguchi up, headlocks, and he tags in Desperado! They mug Taguchi, then bring Taguchi up to double whip. They DOUBLE CHOP, roll Taguchi to his feet, and Desperado lifts Taguchi for an ATOMIC DROP! Mike lines up the shot, he KICKS Taguchi in the butt! Taguchi goes flying, into Ishii! Ishii doesn’t budge, Taguchi slumps down, but Ishii tags in. Ishii rushes in but into double kicks! Desperado & Mike double whip, but Ishii runs them both over! Narita gets in, Ishii intercepts and sends him into an UPPERCUT from Okada! Okada then sends Narita into a FLYING FOREARM from Tanahashi!
Shota runs in at Okada but Okada sends him into a low dropkick from Tanahashi! Ishii dropkicks a leg, too, then Okada BOOTS Shota down! Fans fire up as the Dream Trio flexes and roars together, and Taguchi returns to join in on that. Okada’s a bit confused by that but Tanahashi gives Taguchi a fist bump. Okada gives him a fist bump, too, but Ishii leaves Taguchi hanging. Ishii eggs Desperado on, brings him up, and fans rally up. Desperado swings, Ishii dodges, but then Ishii swings and Desperado dodges. Desperado swings again but Ishii spins him around, only for Desperado to wrench out.
Desperado swings again, Ishii spins him again, but Desperado slips out and shoves Ishii to ropes, for a scoop and BIG back suplex! Fans fire up and Desperado drags him up, but Ishii suplexes first! Fans rally, Ishii drags Desperado up again, and Ishii bumps Desperado off buckles. Ishii CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, but Desperado roars! Desperado throws forearms but Ishii doesn’t budge! Ishii CHOPS Desperado down! Tag to Okada and fans rally up. Okada brings Desperado up to ROCK him with a forearm. Okada scoops Desperado to SLAM him by the ropes. Okada then goes out to SLINGSHOT SENTON back in!
Fans rally and Okada paces around. Okada stares down with Shota while he brings Desperado up, and he CLUBS Desperado. Tag to Tanahashi, he and Okada double whip. They double shoulder Desperado down and fans rally back up. Tanahashi drags Desperado up but Desperado CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Tanahashi throws a hard body shot! Tanahashi waistlocks, Desperado elbows free and switches, but Tanahashi fights free with elbows. Tanahashi swings, but into a BIG back suplex! Fans fire up while both men are down! Desperado and Tanahashi crawl, but Ishii runs in to CLUB Desperado!
Ishii whips, Desperado reverses, but Ishii bounces off buckles, only to run into a SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up again while now three men are down! Desperado crawls, staggers up, Shota tags in! Shota CLOBBERS Tanahashi, intercepts Taguchi with a scoop and DROP! Then he BASEMENT UPPERCUTS Taguchi down! Shota rushes Okada but Okada ROCKS him first! Okada BOOTS Shota, whips him, but Shota reverses to DROPKICK Okada! Fans fire up with Shota and he has Tanahashi. Shota whips Tanahashi corner to corner, runs and UPPERCUTS, then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
Shota wasn’t quite perfect but he still gets the legs. STF! But Okada gets in and he kicks Shota! Shota fires off on Okada and throws him out! Shota then goes after Tanahashi but Tanahashi blocks the kick to DRAGON SCREW! And he tags in Okada! Fans fire up as Okada TOSSES Shota out, and goes out after him! DDT to the floor! Fans fire up and Okada drags Shota up. Okada puts Shota in, he kicks him around, just toying with him, and even dares Shota to hit back. Shota gets up, and he winds up, but Okada catches him into the MONEY CLIP! The rest of the team BLASTS Shota’s team, though Taguchi lags behind.
Taguchi plays defense while Shota endures. Shota fights up, and he RAMS Okada into a corner! Shota runs in but Okada BOOTS him! Okada runs in, but into an EXPLODER! Fans fire up while both men rise. Shota fires up and he runs, to UPPERCUT Okada at the ropes! Shota then slingshots, DDT!! Fans fire up more, Shota wants to finish this, but Narita tags in!? The other young star wants his pound of flesh from Okada! Narita fires off forearms on Okada, UPPERCUTS, then whips to LEAPING LARIAT! Narita brings Okada up again, whips him to a corner, and runs in, but Okada dodges! Okada runs in, but into a BOOT!
Narita runs in, but into the FLAPJACK! Shota returns, but Okada DROPKICKS him! Fans fire up while they’re all down, and Taguchi reaches out! Okada crawls over, hot tag to Taguchi! Taguchi HIP ATTACKS Narita in the corner, whips him corner to corner and HIP ATTACKS again! Taguchi keeps moving, but Narita catches him! Taguchi fights the Cobra Twist to trip Narita, but Narita kicks free. Narita runs in, body scissor takedown! And then step through, but Taguchi cradles! TWO!! Taguchi and Narita hurry up, Taguchi clips Narita’s leg and rolls him up deep! TWO, but OH MY GAH ANKLE!
Taguchi holds on tight but Mike runs in to fire off the lightning kicks! He goes an extra couple kicks before the ENZIGURI! Fans are thunderous but Tanahashi CLOBBERS Mike! Mike kicks, Tanahashi blocks and flips Mike, but Mike lands on his feet! SOBAT! AX KICK! BUZZ- NO, Tanahashi blocks to ROCK and whip, but Mike reverses! Mike ROCKS Tanahashi, snapmares and goes up, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Fans fire up while Tanahashi bails out. Mike goes to the corner, TRIANGLE QUEBRADA! Direct hit on The Ace! Desperado and Ishii return, Ishii RAMS Desperado and whips but Desperado reverses.
Desperado ROCKS Ishii, runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and SPEARS! Fans fire up as Desperado and Narita double whip Taguchi. Narita runs in, but into a HIP ATTACK! Desperado avoids the hip attack, but then runs into a HIP ATTACK after all! Taguchi fires up, he runs, but Narita catches him, EXPLODER BRIDGE! But Okada breaks the cover! Shota attacks Okada and throws him out! Shota is after Okada on the outside, and POSTS him! And then Shota takes the timekeeper’s table, to SMACK Okada with it!! Fans fire up and so does Narita! Narita brings Taguchi up, reels him in, but Taguchi fights the suplex!
Narita shoves Taguchi, Taguchi blocks the kick, Taguchi spins Narita but Narita ducks the enziguri! Narita ENZIGURIS, then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Roll through and wristlocks, for the spin and COBRA TWIST! Taguchi taps, Narita’s team wins!
Winners: El Desperado, Ren Narita, Shota Umino & Mike Bailey, by submission
The Son of Strong Style breaks the Funky Weapon! And perhaps bigger than that, The Roughneck floored The Rainmaker! Is this new wave going to wash away the old guard?
The winning team shakes hands, but things get tense between Desperado and Speedball, who could’ve been tonight’s BSOJ Finals showdown. Maybe that’s what they’re arguing about. And then they start throwing CHOPS! Mike KICKS! Desperado CHOPS! Mike KICKS! Desperado likes that, and they make up? They fist bump, and fans cheer the strange sense of brotherhood. As for Shota, he gets the mic and says, “Okada…! Mr. Okada, please wait. Okada, Tanahashi, Ishii, you have the Six Man Tag titles… If you’d be so kind, I’d like to challenge for them.” Ishii gets back in the ring and asks who with?
Shota says he naturally has tag partners! One is Jon Moxley, and the other… is CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI! The ROH World Champion!? Shota tells Okada, “I guarantee I will be the one to beat you and take those titles.” Shota tosses the mic down and Okada steps in to pick up the belt. Okada says “Moxley and Claudio? Those are pretty damn awesome partners. But! Make sure you don’t let your two daddies down.” Okada leaves, but will he and his Dream Trio be able to survive this Paradigm Shift?
8 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Los Ingobernables de Japon!
Yes, we just saw this same showdown on Friday as part of the semifinals event. However, this isn’t guaranteed to go the same way as last time. Will Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi turn the tides? Or will Sanada, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Douki be on top again?
Fans chant “Let’s Go, Taichi!” while the teams sort out. J5G give the thumbs up, LIJ give the fist bump, and the LIJ attack, just like Friday! And just like Friday, Hiromu keeps Douki in while the others throw everyone else out! Douki claws Hiromu’s eyes, the ref reprimands, and Bushi gets in to CLUB Douki! Bushi & Hiromu double whip Douki but Douki ducks the elbows to springboard DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! Douki stomps Hiromu, bumps him off buckles, and then stomps a mudhole in. Douki digs his boot in, the ref counts, and Douki lets off. Douki tags Taichi and Taichi digs his boot in! So does Douki! And Kanemaru CHOKES Hiromu!
The ref reprimands, Taichi lets off, but the others hold on! The ref reprimands and counts, Kanemaru and Douki let off at 4. Fans rally for “HI-RO-MU!” now as Taichi drags him up. Taichi has the motorcycle stretch and he stands on Hiromu’s back. Hiromu fights up, works to turn things, but Taichi holds him back. Fans rally, Taichi cranks the hold, but Hiromu fights up again! Hiromu tries to turn things, but Taichi brings him down to a knee. Fans rally as Hiromu keeps fighting! Hiromu turns things around, but Taichi turns them right back around! Tag to Kanemaru and Kanemaru stomps Hiromu.
Kanemaru whips, and CHOP BLOCKS the leg! Then he gets the leg for a SHIN BREAKER! Hiromu hobbles away but Kanemaru stomps the leg. Kanemaru whips Hiromu to the corner, runs in, but Hiromu BOOTS him! Hiromu runs in, but into an ELBOW! Kanemaru runs, tilt-o-whirl, but Hiromu denies the DDT! Kanemaru kicks the bad leg, CLUBS Hiromu, then runs, into a kick! Bushi runs in to dropkick the other leg out! Hiromu basement dropkicks Kanemaru! Takagi gets in, he and Bushi BLAST the rest of J5G! Bushi goes out after Taichi, Takagi stomps Kanemaru and Hiromu hobbles to tag Naito.
Naito drags Kanemaru up, he and Hiromu double whip to DOUBLE CHOP! And then DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for “NA-I-TO!” now as he drags Kanemaru up. Naito throws those heavy back elbows! Kanemaru falls over, Naito tags Bushi. Bushi stomps Kanemaru to a corner, CHOPS him, and CHOPS him, and CHOPS him again! Bushi pushes Kanemaru down, covers, TWO! Bushi drags Kanemaru into a chinlock and digs his knee into Kanemaru’s back! Kanemaru endures, kicks around, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Bushi lets go, but then he CLUBS Kanemaru down!
Tag to Takagi, and Bushi bumps Kanemaru off buckles. Takagi CLUBS Kanemaru, brings him up and reels him in. Kanemaru fights the suplex, so Takagi shifts around for a back suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Takagi eggs Kanemaru on. Takagi brings Kanemaru up but Kanemaru throws hands! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! But Takagi HEADBUTTS Kanemaru! Kanemaru goes to a corner, Takagi CHOPS him! Takagi whips Kanemaru corner to corner, runs in, but blocks a boot to clothesline! Fans fire up with Takagi and he brings Kanemaru out. Takagi suplexes, Kanemaru slips out, but Takagi elbows him!
Takagi runs, but Kanemaru dodges to run, tilt-o-whirl, and DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi and Kanemaru crawl, hot tag to Sanada! Fans fire up as Cold Skull DROPKICKS Takagi! And DROPKICKS Naito! Bushi & Hiromu mug Sanada, double whip him to a corner, and then Bushi runs in. Sanada dodges Bushi to dropkick Hiromu’s leg out! Bushi returns, into a DROPKICK! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans oblige and Sanada shows off the dancing pecs. Sanada waits on Takagi but Takagi gets under the Plancha! Sanada shoulders back in, springboards, but Takagi gets under!
Takagi ELBOWS, runs, but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Both men are down but Sanada rolls to tag in Taichi. Taichi kicks Takagi around, then gives him Kawada Kicks. Takagi shakes his head so Taichi kicks, snapmares and KICKS! Takagi gets mad, stands up, but Taichi SOBATS him down! Taichi teases stealing Takagi’s catchphrase, but then BUZZ- NO, Takagi blocks the kick, CLUBS the leg, ROCKS and whips, but Taichi reverses to HOOK KICK! J5G BLASTS LIJ in return! Taichi drags Takagi up, but Takagi fights the Saido! Takagi fireman’s carries, Taichi slips free but Takagi ELBOWS him!
Taichi BOOTS Takagi, runs, but into a clothesline! Takagi runs, DOUBLE BOMBERS collide! They go again, Takagi dodges to run Taichi over! Taichi roars, but the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- NO, Taichi BOOTS the lariat away! But Takagi just DISCUS BOMBERS! Fans fire up while both men are down! Both men crawl, hot tags to Naito and Douki! Douki blocks a kick, fires off forearms, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag! Naito elbows Douki down, but Douki dodges the basement dropkick to DOUBLE STOMP! Naito is right up but Douki DROPKICKS him out! Douki builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Young Lions take the hit for the fans!
Fans fire up as Douki puts Naito in. Douki aims, slingshots, DAYBREAK!! Naito gets spiked! Cover, Hiromu breaks it in time! Kanemaru throws Hiromu out for Douki and Douki wheelbarrows Naito! SUPLEX- NO, Naito fights the nelson. Douki HELL STABS, runs in, but Naito dodges. Hiromu clotheslines! Takagi clotheslines! Feed to the atomic drop, and the CODE BRAEKER! ROLLING JACKKNIFE! TWO!?!? Douki survives the LIJ blitz and fans fire up! Naito wrenches, but Douki backslides! TWO!! Douki has the arm, LA MAGISTROL! TWO!! Naito escapes again, but Douki runs in, into a SPINEBUSTER!
Naito drags Douki up again, wrench and- NO, Kanemaru dropkicks Naito’s leg! Bushi ENZIGURIS Kanemaru! Sanada fireman’s carries Bushi, throws him into the dragon sleeper, but Takagi runs in. Sanada kicks but Takagi blocks it, DRAGON SCREW! Taichi AX BOMBERS Takagi! Hiromu SHOTGUNS Taichi! Douki runs in but Hiromu sends him into Naito’s back elbow! ENZIGURI, and then SUPERKICK, and then ASSISTED TORNADO DDT! Fans are thunderous and Naito brings Douki back up. Tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, LIJ wins!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall
LIJ gets their win back from Friday, the series is 1-1! Takagi gives a look at the KOPW Championship and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship before they’re handed back to J5G. Will Takagi look to take at least one of those belts back for the summer? Is Sanada even defending his title at Dominion? Or will Yota Tsuji not make it back in time?
Best of the Super Juniors 30 Finals: Titan VS Master Wato w/ Hiroyoshi Tenzan w/ Los Ingobernables de Japon!
Both men entered the semifinals as the second seeds of their blocks, but they’re the ones standing here in the end! Will El Inmortal make history for Mexican luchadors in NJPW? Or will the Way of the Grandmaster lead him to the trophy?
The fans rally and duel already, “TI-TA-NN! TI-TA-NN!” “WA~TO! WA~TO!” LIJ fist bump once again, and the bell rings. The fans are thunderous already as the two stare down! The two circle, feel things out, approach but then back off. They tie up, break, tie up again, and Wato waistlocks. Titan switches to a facelock, but Wato switches to a nelson. Wato spins Titan to a cravat and snapmare and then wraps on a chinlock. Titan pushes to a toehold, Wato tries to keep the chinlock but Titan pulls the leg. Wato shifts to get an arm, but Titan stacks Wato! ONE and Wato goes for the armbar again. Titan powers up to stack again, ONE!
Wato still wants the arm but Titan pushes him around to headlock takeover. Wato headscissors, Titan turns him over and rolls back to have a deathlock! Wato rolls to get free, and the fans cheer the exchange. The two reset as the fans duel, and they feel things out. Wato knuckle locks, wrenches, wristlocks, and CLUBS the arm. Wato wrenches again, wristlocks again, but Titan rolls, handsprings, and arm-drags! Titan keeps the arm but Wato fights up to arm-drag back! Titan trips, covers, ONE! Wato trips, covers, ONE! Dropkicks cancel out and both men handspring up! Fans are thunderous as the two stare down again.
Titan and Wato circle, feel things out, knuckle lock, but then Titan SOBATS! Titan wrenches and whips Wato to a corner, but Wato reverses. Titan goes up and over and handsprings away, but Wato rushes in. Titan blocks the chop to knuckle lock and CHOP! Titan goes up the corner, tightrope walks, and jumps for the FLYING ARM-DRAG, but Wato handsprings through! Things speed up, Titan hurdles, Wato leaps, and Titan runs in, but Wato dodges to RANA! Fans fire up while Titan bails out! Wato builds speed, but Titan ducks. Wato stops himself, Titan looks up, and Wato PLANCHAS!
Fans fire up with Wato and he brings Titan up. Wato CLUBS Titan, puts him in the ring, and he pushes Titan around to a facelock. Titan fights around, Wato chinlocks but Titan gets the ROPEBREAK! Wato lets go quick and he stomps Titan. Wato stomps Titan some more, then brings him up. Wato CLUBS Titan, covers, ONE! Titan also grabs the ropes, and Wato lets off. LIJ coaches Titan, fans rally up, but Wato stomps him. Titan sits up, into a KICK! And another KICK! And another KICK! Wato runs, but Titan dropkicks the leg out! Fans fire up, Titan hurries to get the legs! LA CRUCETA!
Wato flails and crawls over, ROPEBREAK! Titan lets Wato go and fans rally up. Titan drags Wato and fans rally behind him as he stomps Wato’s stomach and thigh. Titan hooks the leg, ties things up, TRAILER HITCH! Wato endures and crawls around again. Wato reaches out as Tenzan coaches him, and he gets the ROPEBREAK! Fans rally as Titan lets Wato go. Wato clutches the knee but Titan stomps the leg. Titan stomps the leg some more, brings Wato up, but Wato throws body shots. Titan kicks the bad leg again, wrenches and whips, but Wato holds ropes to block! Titan SOBATS and then whips.
Wato reverses, Titan holds ropes to avoid the dropkick, and Wato’s leg jams! Titan then dropkicks the leg out! Fans fire up while Wato writhes. LIJ coaches Titan and the fans are with him as Wato goes to a corner. Titan powers up, runs in, but Wato BOOTS him! BULL- NO, Titan handsprings through the bulldog to basement dropkick! Wato bails out and fans fire up! Titan builds speed, but Wato GAMANGIRIS him first! Titan flops out, fans continue to rally, and Wato FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Titan! Wato still clutches the bad leg but Tenzan coaches him up. LIJ checks Titan, Red Shoes starts the ring count.
Wato stands at 4 of 20 first and fires up! The fans are with him, he fetches Titan at 9 of 20 to put him in at 12. Fans applaud and Wato aims from the apron. Titan rises, Wato springboards, FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Wato gets his bad leg working, then body scissors Titan into VENDAVAL! Titan scrambles and gets the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer and Wato lets off quickly. Wato brings Titan up, wrenches, and hooks Titan up, but Titan fights Recientemente to get the ROPEBREAK! Wato lets off, but KNEES Titan to the apron! Wato then brings Titan up but Titan GAMANGIRIS now!
Wato staggers away, comes back, but Titan slingshots to body scissor Wato up and out! Fans fire up, Titan powers up and he TOP ROPE QUEBRADA!! Direct hit and they wipe out into the commentary area! Fans are thunderous for “TI-TAN! TI-TAN!” while LIJ checks him. Wato and Titan stir as commentary fixes itself. The ring count starts, Titan sits up at 5 of 20. Titan stands at 7, fans cheer, and he hobbles his way back to the ring. Titan slides in at 10, Wato is just now sitting up. Wato stands at 15, but Titan FLIES out onto him! Fans fire up again as Wato goes back down! Fans are again thunderous for Titan!
Wato and Titan stir again and Red Shoes restarts the ring count. Titan rises at 5 of 20 again as LIJ coaches him. But Titan flops over at 8! Wato rolls at 12, both men get to the apron, and Titan drags Wato up at 17 to put him in! Fans cheer the sportsmanship, and Titan crawls to a cover. TWO!! Wato survives and Titan is a bit frustrated. LIJ and Tenzan each coach up their guys, and Titan sits up again. Titan stands and roars! Fans fire up, Titan drags Wato but Wato pushes him away. Titan tries again but Wato pushes him again. Titan powers up, drags Wato up into the fireman’s carry, but Wato fights free!
Wato ROUNDHOUSES! Titan wobbles, but he fires off his strike fest! SOBAT and- NO, Wato spins Titan to SOBAT! But then Titan goes Matrix to CALF KICK! Wato wobbles, but he dodges the lariat to ZIGZAG! But Titan kips up!? To PELE!! Fans are thunderous as both men are down again! Titan and Wato stir, Titan crawls for ropes but Wato crawls for Titan. Wato grabs the tights but Titan brushes him off. Wato throws a forearm! Titan throws it back! Wato throws another forearm, but Titan throws it back! Wato throws another forearm, Titan throws it again, and they stand! Fans rally as the shots go back and forth!
Titan eggs Wato on, Wato ROCKS him! Titan fires off another strike fest! BACKHAND, and then Titan powers up! Titan runs, into an ELBOW! Wato whips, Titan reverses to TORNADO- NO, Wato fights the DDT to tilt-o-whirl, crucifix, RECIENTEMENTE!! Cover, TWO!! Titan survives and fans are thunderous again! Wato body scissors Titan, rolls him, and has VENDAVAL!! Titan kicks around, fans rally up, but Wato thrashes him! LIJ coaches Titan, Titan pushes and kicks around again, but he’s fading! Red Shoes checks, Titan gets a second wind and he gets the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer as Wato lets go in frustration.
Wato roars, he drags Titan up, and he waistlocks for TSU- NO, Titan fights the high angle German! Titan throws elbows, switches, shoves and TORNADO DDTS! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! LIJ pounds the mat to the rhythm of “TI-TA-NN! TI-TA-NN!” Titan rises, Wato goes to a corner. Titan powers up and runs corner to corner, LOCO LARIAT!! Wato flounders, Titan is slow to rising back up, but Titan still makes it to the apron. Titan roars and fans are behind him! Springboard, ANGEL INMORTAL!!! Cover off the double stomps to the back, TWO!??! But Titan still has the leg! TRAILER HITCH!!!
Wato endures as we pass 20 minutes, the longest match he’s had in the BOSJ yet! Wato shakes his head, flails around, Tenzan seems unsure if he should call it. Wato says no, so Tenzan tells him to get to the ropes! But Titan stands up, shifts and JAVE INMORTAL!!! Wato fights the crossface, crawls, flails, ROPEBREAK!!! The fans are electric as Titan lets go in exhaustion. Titan gets some space from Wato and he pounds the mat. Fans rally with him, as does LIJ. Off come the elbow pads, Titan brings Wato up, and he reels Wato in. Canadian Rack, spin and- NO, Wato slips free to waistlock!
Wato gets an O’Conner Roll, into TSUTENKAKU!!! Bridging cover, TWO!??! Titan survives but Wato shakes his head. Wato drags Titan up again, hooks him up, but Titan spins out to tilt-o-whirl, LA MYSTICA!! INTO A SEATBELT! TWO!?!?! Wato escapes and the fans are electric again! Wato staggers around, runs in, into a BOO! SOBAT! Front kick and CALF KICK!! Fans are thunderous, LIJ tells Titan to finish this! Titan goes to a corner, skins the cat to the top, and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? No one can believe Wato survives but Red Shoes assures us, he did!
LIJ shouts at Titan to keep going! Takagi holds up the Mexican flag, encouraging Titan to do this for his people! Titan drags Wato around, hooks a leg, but Wato drags him down into a cradle! TWO!! Wato and Titan get up, Titan SUPERKICKS! Wato SCREW HIGH KICKS!! Wato roars, drags Titan back up, TSUTENKAKU!!!! But he can’t bridge, so he just brings Titan up again! Chicken wings, for RECIENTEMENTE 2.0!!! Cover, WATO WINS!!
Winner: Master Wato, by pinfall (Best of the Super Juniors 30 Winner)
El Inmortal finally finals, and The Way of the Grandmaster has finally reached the mountaintop! With as hard as he fought to get to the finals, how hard will Titan have to fight to get back?
As for Wato, the trophy is presented by President Obari, they pose for the photo ops, then Wato has Tenzan hold onto the trophy for him as the NJPW banner is brought in by Ash Da Hero, the band who provided Shake Da Soul, the BOSJ’s theme song this year. Wato takes the banner from them and bows, then they pose together for the photo ops. And of course, Wato then gets the mic to say, “Hiromu-san. Please, come back to the ring.” Hiromu obliges, as he is the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Hiromu joins Wato in the ring, and Wato tells him, “Finally, I’ve been able to reach this point.”
As winner of Best of the Super Juniors 30, Wato knows he can, and wishes to, challenge Hiromu for his title. Hiromu takes the mic to tell Wato, “That was amazing. Congratulations. You’ve opened new doors for Junior Heavyweight wrestling. BUT! Whatever door you choose to open, I’ll be standing behind it. I’ll be delighted to accept your challenge.” Fans like the sound of that, and the two go forehead to forehead. Hiromu backs up to applaud, and Wato takes the mic back. Wato says that he wants it for his hometown of OSAKA! That means in DOMINION! Hiromu says okay, see you there!
Wato then finishes up by saying he has one last thing to say. “I have one more match to go to reach the top of the mountain.” Wato raises the trophy and the streamers flies! Wato poses with trophy and banner, will he soon be able to pose with the title? Or will the Ticking Timebomb knock Wato off the mountain to stay on top?
My Thoughts:
A great event for NJPW here to wrap up the BOSJ, but yeah, I did skip things again. Today is busy wrestling wise, y’know. NXT Battleground AND AEW Double or Nothing, only one of which I can do live later. But I did skim things to make sure I didn’t miss anything too big.
Speaking of which, the “No Contest” result in Chaos VS House of Torture is really what in WWE or AEW might’ve been called a Disqualification as Evil, in a desperate attempt to not lose to Bishamon before Dominion, dragged Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare off commentary to put them in the ring. This continues to build to what is now a Triple Threat now for the titles, Khan & Henare representing the Empire on behalf of Aussie Open. Now that it is a Triple Threat, we can make Steiner Math jokes, but also it could really go any which way. I personally just want anyone other than House of Torture, which I think the vast majority of fans would agree with.
Great stuff out of the Team Okada VS Team Shota 8 Man Tag, and I like that Shota wasn’t the only one who wanted after Okada given Narita lost the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles to Okada. But of course this leads Shota challenging the Dream Trio. I really wanted it to be Bryan Danielson as the third man but Claudio is still a great choice. Also he was the only other choice because they had Yuta join in for Resurgence just last week, and that didn’t seem like the combo they were using anyway. I don’t see The BCC winning at Dominion, though, as I don’t see Moxley and Claudio constantly going back and forth between Japan and the US.
Great 8 Man rematch from Just5Guys VS LIJ. I had a feeling things were going to be different from Friday, LIJ winning helps bring Takagi back into the conversation of challenging Taichi for the KOPW. I don’t think anyone is tired of seeing them face off, they always bring great stipulations and great matches through those stipulations. And of course, an awesome main event from the BOSJ Finals. The fans loved both these guys, but something about their support of Titan felt so strong, I really wish it was his win. But as I’ve also said, Wato has been doing solid work, from both great matches to knowing who his character is, so him getting the nod makes sense. Hiromu VS Wato now being for Dominion is huge, making an already big show even bigger.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Will the landscape of the WWE completely change in one day?
WWE returns to Saudi Arabia for a Night of Champions! And a NEW World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned after Seth Rollins takes on AJ Styles!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Finals: Seth Rollins VS AJ Styles; Rollins wins and is the inaugural WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
- Becky Lynch VS Trish Stratus; Trish wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER w/ Imperium VS Mustafa Ali; Gunther wins and retains the title.
- Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair VS Asuka; Asuka wins and becomes the new Raw Women’s Championship.
- SmackDown Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley VS Natalya; Rhea wins and retains the title.
- Cody Rhodes VS Brock Lesnar; Lesnar wins.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa; Kevin & Sami win and retain the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the Night of Champions Kickoff Show!
Join Kayla Braxton, Matt Camp and Peter Rosenberg in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action here tonight/today!
Backstage interview with Cody Rhodes.
Byron Saxton catches The American Nightmare as he arrives, and he asks about the condition of his arm, and about any last thoughts before the match with Brock Lesnar. Cody says cat’s out of the bag via the press conference the other day. There is a stress fracture, but that doesn’t change his spirits. Cody beat Brock Lesnar in under ten minutes last time. So this doesn’t change his spirits, this only changes the game plan. Cody is still going to have a broken arm tomorrow, but Lesnar is gonna wake up tomorrow being 0-2. Cody can live with this broken arm. Can Lesnar live with another loss? Cody puts it concisely himself, but will his spirit be what suffers next?
On this global stage…
“In a triple main event… Who will be victorious? Who will leave as a champion?” HHH says, “A champion is always on. It is a 24/7, 365 state of mind. Being a champion is more than a way of life. It is your life. And man, can it change your life. With the eyes of the world watching, history calls. And the answer will be deafening. In this kingdom, this is what it’s all about. Are you ready? I said, ARE, YOU, READY!? This… is a Night of Champions!”
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Finals: Seth Rollins VS AJ Styles!
The 60 diamonds represent the 60 years of this company. The eagle harkens back to the days of eagles on the top title. The crown harkens back to the days of THE Bruno Sammartino. Only one man can be the first to hold a title that means so much about the then, now and forever of the WWE. Will that man be a Visionary? Or will he be Phenomenal?
The introductions are made, the belt is on display, and one way or another, a new champion will be crowned!
The bell rings and the fans are thunderous already! They rally and duel, “AJ STYLES!” “SETH ROLLINS!” The two circle, Rollins avoids Styles, and fans sing for him. “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” The two reset and feel things out. They knuckle lock, then Rollins shoots past Styles and the fans sing again. But Styles DROPKICKS Rollins! And clotheslines him up and out of the ring! Then he slingshots, but Rollins avoids Styles! Styles lands on the apron and Rollins grins. Styles steps back in and fans rally up again. They tie up, Rollins headlocks, but Styles powers up and out. Styles hurdles, Rollins rolls, and the two stand off again.
Fans fire up, Styles swings but misses. Rollins comes back to SLINGBLADE! Styles bails out, Rollins goes to the apron and FLYING KNEES Styles down! Rollins puts Styles in, takes aim from the corner, but Styles ducks the Shining Wizard, only for Rollins to BOOMERANG! Cover, TWO! Rollins keeps cool and he brings Styles up. Rollins goes to suplex but Styles blocks. Rollins CLUBS away but Styles RAMS him into the corner! And again, and again! The ref counts, Styles lets off, and Styles snapmares Rollins to then run and KNEE DROP! Rollins clutches his face but Styles brings him around to KICK in the back!
Rollins grits his teeth, but Styles snapmares him into a chinlock. Fans rally, Rollins endures, and Rollins fights up to throw body shots. Rollins whips, Styles goes up and over and Rollins hits buckles! Styles CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Rollins goes to another corner, Styles whips him corner to corner but Rollins reverses. Styles goes up and over but gets caught, BUCKLE SHOT! Rollins keeps going, he RAMS Styles into the opposite corner! Fans sing for Rollins again while he catches his breath. Styles sits up in the corner, Rollins puts him on the top rope. Rollins CHOPS Styles and Styles flops to the apron.
Rollins climbs the corner, drags Styles up to join him, and fans rally as the two fight for control. Styles slips under, trips Rollins up and Rollins hits buckles! Styles ROCKS Rollins with a right, but Rollins hits back! They go back and forth, fans fire up with each haymaker, and then Styles snap suplexes Rollins into the corner! Rollins is folded up and fans chant “This is Awesome!” Styles drags Rollins up to CHOP! Rollins ROCKS and CHOPS in return, and on repeat! Rollins then fires hands from all sides, but Styles comes back with the Phenomenal Blitz! SLIDING FOREARM! Fans fire up as Rollins goes to a corner.
Styles runs in to clothesline! Styles fireman’s carries, Rollins slips off but Styles ducks the rolling elbow to wheelbarrow FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! That was so close and Styles can’t believe it! Styles brings Rollins up, but Rollins RAMS him into a corner! Rollins gets space, but runs into an ELBOW! Styles goes up, QUEBRADA DDT! Cover, TWO! Rollins survives again and Styles is again surprised! Styles puts Rollins in a corner then up on the top rope. But Rollins throws hands! Styles comes back, but into a BOOT! FLYING SUNSET, TWO, but Rollins deadlifts Styles, for a BUCKLE BOMB!
Styles staggers, Rollins hurries to another corner and climbs up! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Now Styles survives and surprises Rollins! Both men rise, Rollins ROLLING ELBOWS! Then he turns styles, but Styles ducks the Dream Smasher to fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!! Rollins survives and fans fire up while both men are down. Both men rise and the fans duel. Styles reels Rollins in, brings him up, but Rollins slips free to reel Styles in! Styles fights out to CHOP and PELE! Rollins falls and flounders to a corner while Styles stands up again. Fans rally, Styles storms over and then goes to the apron.
Styles climbs the corner and he brings Rollins up! Fans fire up as Styles has Rollins hooked, but Rollins RANAS free! Rollins then gets Styles up onto the top rope, climbs up behind him, and CLUBS away on Styles’ neck! Fans count and Rollins goes all the way to eight. Rollins dragon sleepers but Styles fights free! Rollins falls back, Styles works to adjust his position, but Rollins is right back up there! INVERTED SUPERPLEX!! Roll through, into SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO!! Rollins is beside himself as Styles survives! Fans are thunderous as Rollins stands. Rollins stomps Styles, then goes back to the corner.
Rollins climbs up top, fans fire up, and Rollins PHOENIX- NO, he rolls through as Styles moves! Styles BOOTS Rollins, reels him back in at the corner, TORNADO HOT- NO, Rollins blocks that to HEADBUTT! Both men wobble, but Rollins brings Styles up again. But Styles fights the suplex! Styles tries to suplex but Rollins blocks now. They fight for control, Styles drags Rollins out to join him, and then APRON BRAINBUSTERS!! Fans go nuts as Rollins flops to the floor! Styles drags Rollins into the ring, then goes to the apron. Styles springboards, but Rollins trips him up! Styles now hits the floor!
Rollins builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp! Rollins clutches his leg, he may have done more harm than good. Fans sing “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~” for him and Rollins rises. Rollins goes to the steel steps, he and Styles get in the ring at 9 of 10! Rollins goes after Styles but Styles goes after the leg! CALF CRUSHER!! Rollins endures, reaches out, crawls around, but Styles rolls him from the ropes! CALF CRUSHER!! Styles pulls back on the leg while Rollins endures! Rollins reaches, and grabs Styles in a SLEEPER! Styles lets Rollins go and Rollins lets Styles go. Styles KICKS the leg, but Rollins LARIATS Styles!
Both men are down and fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as both men crawl to each other. Rollins and Styles stand, and they start throwing hands! Fans fire up with each haymaker, but Rollins gets the edge with forearms! But then Styles fires off palm strikes from all sides! And he KICKS the bad leg! But Rollins mule kicks! And Kawada Kicks! Fans fire up and Rollins swings big, but misses! Styles CHOPS, ROCKS and HEADBUTTS Rollins! Styles runs, Rollins ducks and PELES! Styles wobbles, but Rollins avoids his Pele! SUPERKICK! Styles falls over, Rollins runs in, and Rollins stomps the hand!
Rollins underhooks the arms, but Styles trips him! Styles hooks Rollins up but Rollins kicks free! Styles dodges a haymaker now and PELES! Styles steals the PEDIGREE!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Styles and Saudi Arabia are all shocked that Rollins survives! Styles crawls back to a corner as he thinks of what he has to do to finish this. Fans fire up again and Styles goes back to the apron. Styles aims but Rollins crawls over to that side. Rollins stands and glares at Styles. But Styles ROCKS Rollins first! Springboard, PHENOMENAL- SUPERKICK!! Rollins gets his bad leg working as he aims from the corner, Rollins runs in, but the leg gives up!
Rollins drags Styles up, Styles rolls him! Rollins rolls through, to get the PEDIGREE!! But the bad leg hurts from hitting it! Rollins grits his teeth, aims again, runs in, CURB STOMP!!! Cover, ROLLINS WINS!!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall (INAUGURAL WWE World Heavyweight Champion)
The Visionary has done it! He has made history once again! And Triple H is here in person to present the title directly to him! Will Rollins follow through on his promises to push the industry forward and to do it “the right way?”
Becky Lynch VS Trish Stratus!
The Man wanted The Chick to help her against Damage CTRL, and that she did do. But Trish could not handle being second, could not handle sharing the spotlight, and could not handle being the past and not the present. But will Trish tear down the current generation all in the pursuit of praise and gratitude? Or will she regret ever entering The Big Time?
The bell rings and fans sing Becky’s song now. Trish says okay, Becky, let’s go. And Becky DECKS Trish! Becky fires hands on Trish, Trish gest to ropes but Becky bumps her off buckles! Becky stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, and then she brings Trish around to bump her off buckles again! And again! And then Becky gives her more stomps! The fans fire up but the ref counts, and Becky lets off again. Trish bails out but Becky slides! Trish dodges the dropkick to RAM Becky into steel steps! And then brings her around to RAM her face first into the steps! Fans cheer and jeer but Trish soaks it all up.
Trish SMACKS Becky off the Arabian announce table, then the American announce table! Trish puts Becky back in the ring, lines up the shot and PUNTS Becky in the side! Trish looks for the kick, it’s good! Then Trish CHOKES Becky on ropes! The ref counts, Trish lets off and she goes up top. But Becky ROCKS her first! Trish ROCKS Becky back, and Becky staggers away. Trish goes after Becky and gives her a mudhole stomp. Trish then goes up the corner and brings Becky up, HANGING SLEEPER! The ref counts, Trish lets Becky go and “apologizes.” Trish then brings Becky back in, for another HANGING SLEEPER!
Trish lets go, soaks up the cheers and jeers and then takes a bow. But Becky ROCKS her for it! Trish kicks back, reels Becky in, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Trish is frustrated and she storms up on Becky. Trish stomps Becky in the corner, digs her boot in, but lets off as the ref counts. Becky sputters and crawls but Trish is on her. Trish SMACKS Becky off the apron! There are fans who chant “Thank You, Trish!” and she enjoys that. Becky hits back but Trish CLUBS her down! And again! And again! Trish digs Becky’s face into the mat! The ref reprimands, Trish lets off and soaks up more cheers and jeers.
Trish shows off “Thank You Trish” on the back of her suit, and then she brings Becky into a CAMEL CLUTCH! Becky endures as fans rally up. Trish makes Becky smile with fishhooks in her mouth! The ref reprimands, Trish throws Becky down and wipes her hands off. Trish then YANKS Becky around by her hair! Trish picks the strands out of her hair, then grabs at Becky again. Becky KICKS from below! Becky fires off on Trish and fans fire up. Becky whips, Trish reverses and hits a THESZ PRESS! Fast hands but Becky gets free! Trish gets around Becky to hit a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally up but Trish swaggers around. Trish stalks Becky to ropes, then CHOPS her! Becky goes to a corner, Trish riles up the fans, and Trish CHOPS Becky again. Becky goes to another corner, Trish CHOPS her again! Becky goes to the fourth corner, then past that to the ropes. Trish CHOPS but Becky blocks! Becky ROCKS Trish with forearm after forearm! Trish hits back, the fans fire up with every haymaker! Becky gets the edge, whips to ropes, but Trish reverses. Becky comes back with FLYING FOREARMS! Fans fire up and Becky runs at the corner to FIRE-ARM! And ROCKET KICK! And then BECKSPLODER!
Trish scrambles away but Becky is after her! Becky has Trish in the ropes to fire off forearms and UPPERCUTS! Becky windmills hands on Trish and fans are thunderous! Becky goes up, GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! Cover, TWO!! Trish scrambles away again while Becky cools off. Becky runs and WRECKS Trish with a dropkick! Becky goes to the apron, and she FLYING FOREARMS Trish down! The fans are all fired up and Becky drags Trish up. Becky puts Trish in, but Trish skins the cat to RANA Becky into the POST! Trish soaks up the cheers and jeers, showing she can still do her old tricks.
Trish puts Becky in the, and hits a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and duel, but Becky hits back! Trish rains down fists in frustration, then runs corner to corner. Trish SPLASHES Becky, puts her up top, then climbs up after her. Trish throws hands but Becky throws them back! Trish CLUBS Becky, but Becky throws body shots! Becky sends Trish back, but Trish returns! STRATUSPHERE! Cover, TWO! Trish throws a fit but fans rally up again. Trish drags Becky up, reels her in, and she points to the sky! STRATUS- NO, Becky powers out! Becky ELBOWS Trish, reels her in at the corner, and hits DIAMOND DUST!
Trish flops and Becky hurries back up! Becky drops the MAN’S LEG! Cover, TWO! Trish survives, both women are down, and the fans rally up again. Becky nods, she’s feeling the energy. Trish rises, Becky brings her in, but Trish wheelbarrows and victory rolls to get the legs! But Becky kicks her away! Trish goes to a corner, Becky runs in, but is put on the apron. Becky ROCKS Trish first, climbs up the corner, but Trish trips her up! Trish then goes back, STRATUS- NO, Becky catches those legs, and steps over into the BOSTON CRAB! Trish endures as Becky bends her back! Trish crawls, reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK!
Becky lets Trish go and then goes out the side. Fans rally as Becky runs in and leaps off the steps, into a KICK! Fans boo but Trish grits her teeth and gets in the ring. Trish lets the ring count climb, because a win is a win, after all! Becky stirs at 7, and springs in at 9! CHICK KICK!! Cover, TWO!?! Becky survives and Trish can’t believe it! “This is Awesome!” as Trish drags Becky around. Trish sits Becky up to tell her she should be thanking her! Trish throws Becky down, sits her up, and throws her down again! Trish says Becky is not better than her! Trish SLAPS Becky, Becky drags Trish into the DISARM-HER!!
Trish endures, flails, reaches, and pulls Becky’s hair! Becky lets the hold go to pull Trish’s hair! The ref reprimands, the two throw hands! The ref counts, tries to separate them, Becky ducks a Chick Kick! Roll up, TWO!! MANHANDLE SLAM!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!!! Trish survives by a literal foot and Becky can’t believe it! Trish flops out of the ring, Becky storms out after her. Trish goes under the ring, Becky drags her back out. Becky puts Trish in, but ZOEY STARK is here?!? Zoey Stark appears from under the ring to hit a Z 360!!! Zoey puts Becky in for Trish to hit STRATUSFACTION!!! Cover, TRISH WINS!!!
Winner: Trish Stratus, by pinfall
What in the world!? Zoey Stark is on Team Trish!? Trish says Becky lost because Trish is smarter than her. Becky has a bloody nose and anger in her eyes, will The Man have to turn Trish & The Hunter into the hunted?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER w/ Imperium VS Mustafa Ali!
Der Ring General has been absolutely dominant as champion, setting the longest reign of the last 23 YEARS! And while The Beacon has shed his “Positive Ali” façade, he still has the confidence to stand up to this challenge. Will Ali win his first title ever in WWE? Or will nothing stop Gunther from becoming the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time?
Ludwig Kaiser has the mic to demand all our gratitude for our “WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, Derrrrrr RIIING GENERAL…! GUUUUNTHERRR!” The formal introductions are made, the belt is raised, and on an already historic night, we see which path history takes!
The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally up for Ali but Gunther doesn’t react. The two tie up, Gunther headlocks, and he TOSSES Ali away! Fans boo but Gunther eggs Ali on. Ali gets up, the two circle again, and they tie up again. Gunther powers Ali to a corner, smothers him, but lets off, only for Ali to dodge the chop! Ali CHOPS, but Gunther just storms up on him. They circle, Ali gets around to KICK the leg! And again! And again! Gunther blocks a kick, and reels Ali into a SLEEPER! Ali arm-drags free, then goes up and over in the corner! Ali keeps moving to DROPKICK! Fans fire up as Gunther wobbles!
Ali runs to DORPKICK again! Ali runs, but into a scoop and SLAM! Ali writhes and fans boo but Gunther stomps him down! Gunther paces while fans rally for Ali. Gunther drags Ali up but Ali throws body shots. Gunther CHOPS Ali down! Ali sputters, but Gunther brings him up, to CHOP him down again! Gunther talks trash and fans boo, but Gunther goes back to Ali. Gunther drags Ali up, but Ali throws haymakers! Fans fire up but Gunther shoves Ali to a corner. Ali BOOTS back! Ali swings, but into a scoop and SLAM! Gunther gets the legs, BOSTON CRAB! Fans rally, Ali crawls and reaches out, but Gunther drags him away!
Gunther shifts into an STF! Fans rally as Ali endures, and Ali fights up to throw body shots. Gunther knees low! Gunther TOSSES Ali out but Ali holds onto ropes. Ali gets up to shoulder into Gunther! Ali slingshots, into a BOOT! Ali falls to the floor, and Gunther drags him up to POST him! Ali goes flying then lands hard, and Gunther goes into the ring to simply let the count handle this. Ali drags himself up at 7 of 10 but falls over! The count is 9, Ali springs in at 9.99!! Gunther is annoyed but fans fire up! Gunther drags Ali up, wrenches the arm, and CHOPS Ali down! Gunther drags Ali up again, just to CHOP him back down!
Fans boo but Gunther soaks it all up. Gunther stands Ali up again but Ali breaks free, CHOPS and ROCKS and then dodges to ROCK Gunther again! Ali CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, then fires off windmill haymakers! Fans fire up, but Gunther shoves Ali away. Gunther runs in at the corner, Ali slips out to ROUNDHOUSE! Ali slingshots, somersaults, and NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up and Ali hurries back to the corner! Ali climbs, but Gunther CHOPS! Gunther ROCKS Ali, climbs up after him, and double underhooks. Ali fights those off and he HEADBUTTS Gunther! And again! And then SMACKS Gunther off the buckles!
Ali gets up, SUPER SUNSET- Wait, Gunther holds onto the ropes! Ali gets him loose and POWERBOMBS Gunther down! Ali skins the cat to the top rope, so that he can 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!!! “This is Awesome!” as Ali is getting closer and closer! Ali goes up another corner, leaps, but Gunther blocks the tornado! Gunther throws Ali away to then LARIAT!! Gunther shouts at the fans, he drags Ali up, and LARIATS again!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ali survives and Gunther is furious! Fans are thunderous for Ali but Gunther eggs him on. Ali crawls over to Gunther, Gunther kicks him around and taunts him.
Ali rises up and the fans are with him. Gunther tells Ali to listen. “You don’t belong-” Ali SLAPS! Gunther SLAPS! Gunther POWER- NO, Ali slips out of the bomb to SUPERKICK!! And Ali goes up, FLYING TORNADO DDT!! Ali hurries up top again! 450- NO, Gunther moves and Ali rolls through! Gunther SHOTGUNS Ali! More like a cannon! Gunther GENERAL BOMBS Ali, high stacks, and Gunther wins!
Winner: Gunther, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Fans boo but Ali still put up one hell of a fight. But will Gunther continue to dominate the world, no matter who is put in front of him?
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn talk backstage.
They’re feeling good. Being here is crazy. Everything since WrestleMania! Even WrestleMania was so much more than they ever expected. Winning these tag titles together, what a run. Even if it ended tonight- Wait, whoa, why would it end? It won’t, but Sami wants to “acknowledge” the fact Roman Reigns is celebrating 1000 days as Universal Champion and he wants these titles. Somehow, he finds a way. Roman’s screwed them both over before. Kevin sees that. But that’s the only thing he “acknowledges.” Here is something for Roman to “acknowledge”: Kevin & Sami won these off The Usos, a greater tag team than Roman & Solo will ever be.
But here’s another thing: Kevin is sick of hearing about Roman’s 1000 days! Roman’s had his day, he has had 1000 of them! Today is THEIR day! Kevin didn’t come all this wat just to lose! No, today is THEIR day! Today, Solo loses! Today, Roman loses! Yeah? Yeah?! YEAH! Sami & Kevin are ready, will they make sure Roman’s 1000 days with his two titles is all he gets?
Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair VS Asuka!
The EST has beat the Empress of Tomorrow before, but this isn’t that Asuka. This Asuka is something more sinister, more ruthless, and more chaotic. Will Bianca not be ready for this Asuka? Or will Bianca continue the longEST women’s title reign of the last 23 years?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the B E S T!
The bell rings and the two rush in! Asuka waistlocks, headlocks, hits the takeover, but Bianca headscissors. Asuka kips free, gets around and throws Bianca down by her hair! The ref reprimands and fans boo but Asuka is having fun,. Bianca ducks the Penalty Kick, kips up, and trips Asuka to rain down fists! Asuka turns it around, but then Bianca turns it back. They go back and forth, Bianca kicks Asuka way, and then she RAMS Asuka, rebounds, and runs her over! Bianca says if Asuka wants to mess around, then come on. Things speed up, Bianca handsprings over Asuka, then hurdles, but Asuka dropkicks the roll!
Asuka swaggers around, gets Bianca’s arms, and stands on her to give her DRAGON STOMPS! Fans fire up and Asuka lets off to swagger some more. Asuka gets an arm, she wrenches it, but Bianca ROCKS her with the other arm! Bianca RAMS Asuka into the corner, then tells her this is what she gets. Bianca TOSSES Asuka across the way, runs in and RAMS her into the other corner! Bianca brings Asuka out to whip her corner to corner, but Asuka reverses. Bianca goes up and over, and DROPKICKS Asuka down! Bianca kips up again and fans fire up. Bianca drags Asuka up, scoops her, and SLAMS her!
Fans rally, Bianca runs to handspring, but Asuka avoids the moonsault! Asuka goes to the apron, Bianca runs in to handspring kick her down! Fans rally as Bianca eggs Asuka on. Bianca then goes out after Asuka, but Asuka drags her down by the hair! Asuka whips Bianca into steel steps! Asuka grins while fans boo and the ref reprimands. Asuka puts Bianca in the ring at 5 of 10, then swaggers around more. Asuka runs in to HIP ATTACK Bianca in a corner, then GERMAN SUPLEX her away! SLIDING KNEE! Cover, TWO! Bianca is still in this but Asuka gets an ARMBAR! Bianca flails, stacks, TWO!
Asuka lets Bianca go to BUZZSAW the arm! Asuka stands on Bianca at the ropes, the ref counts, and Asuka steps off. Bianca shoves Asuka away but Asuka comes back, into a JAWBREAKER! Roll up, TWO! Both women hurry up, Bianca spins Asuka around and suplexes, but Asuka cradle counters! TWO, and Bianca runs in, into a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Asuka is still having fun as fans start to rally for her now. Asuka wants an arm but Bianca fights her off. Asuka stomps away on that arm! Asuka grinds the shoulder, drags Bianca around, but Bianca fights up. Fans rally again but Asuka keeps Bianca down.
Bianca powers up again and she throws body shots. Bianca scoops but Asuka slips free to YANK Bianca down by her hair! The ref reprimands but Asuka just grins. Asuka kicks Bianca around, toys with her, and then smiles. Bianca blocks the boot, ROCKS Asuka, and then ROCKS her again! Fans rally up as Bianca fires off forearm after forearm! Asuka shoves Bianca away but Bianca BLOCKBUSTERS on the return! Fans fire up while both women are down! Bianca goes to ropes, drags herself up, and Asuka runs in, but into an ELBOW! Bianca BOOTS Asuka, goes up the corner, then goes up and over!
Bianca then runs in to rally with big shoulder tackles! And a DROPKICK! Fans fire up, Asuka swings but into a spin and suplex! A bit of a stall before a BIG SLAM, and Bianca kips up! Bianca runs to RAM into Asuka at the corner! Bianca climbs up and fans fire up as she rains down fists! Bianca goes all the way to TEN, but then Asuka slips under to grab the hair! The ref reprimands, Bianca yanks Asuka in to scoop and BACKBREAKER! Bianca handsprings to MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Asuka is still in this but Bianca says okay. Fans rally and duel, Bianca has Asuka in a corner, but Asuka drop toeholds her into a buckle!
Asuka BUZZSAWS Bianca, YANKS her down with the hair, and grins while the ref reprimands her. Asuka aims, KICKS Bianca in the chest again and again and again, but Bianca ducks the buzzsaw! Bianca shoves Asuka, Asuka mule kicks back! Asuka goes up but Bianca ROCKS her first! Bianca climbs, she brings Asuka up and fans rally. Asuka resists the suplex, throws body shots then shoves Bianca away. Asuka leaps, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Bianca is still in this, as she is the tougheEST, y’know. Asuka is still amused, though, and she brings Bianca up. But Bianca resists the scoop!
Bianca suplexes, but Asuka fights that to get the arm! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Bianca flails, kicks around, shifts to the other side, and she gut wrenches Asuka! But Asuka fights the bomb! Asuka runs back in, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack cover, TWO!! Asuka is still in this and Bianca is beside herself. Bianca runs, handsprings, but into a takedown! ASUKA LOCK!!! Bianca pushes back to a cover, TWO! Asuka runs in, into chicken wings! GlamEST- NO, Victory Roll! TWO and Bianca has the cover, TWO! Asuka catches Bianca to a backslide, TWO! BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!!!
Bianca survives again, but nothing is ruining Asuka’s mood! She still grins and fans say “This is Awesome!” as she drags Bianca by her hair. The ref reprimands, Asuka lets go, then whips Bianca, only for Bianca to reverse! Asuka tumbles out, but then drags Bianca out by her hair! Asuka whips but Bianca stops from hitting steps, and she elbows Asuka back! Bianca sends Asuka into the steps! The ref reprimands them both, the ring count starts, and Bianca slides in at 2, only for Asuka to drag her out. Bianca returns the favor, the count rises, and they start shoving. Then they start throwing forearms!
Bianca CLUBS Asuka, puts Asuka in at 7, and hurries in after her. Asuka has the hair again! Asuka CLUBS away on Bianca, but Bianca RAMS her into ropes! Bianca CLUBS away on Asuka now, fans fire up and Asuka shoves Bianca away. The ref wants them to listen to her, and Bianca nods. Bianca goes to Asuka, RAMS her in a corner, fires off again, but the ref counts. The ref gets between them, Asuka MISTS! But Bianca narrowly avoids it! That was Asuka’s one shot, and now she’s mad! They run, Bianca gets around, torture rack! But Asuka arm-drags free! And catches Bianca to an ARMBAR!!
Bianca kicks, flails, fights around, stacks Asuka and covers, TWO! But Bianca deadlifts Asuka, for a POWERBOMB! That took all Bianca had there and she falls over! Fans fire up as Bianca shakes her arm out. Asuka goes tot he apron, Bianca storms over and grabs at her. The ref has Bianca back off, and then Asuka spits more mist, but on her own hand!? Bianca storms back over, torture racks again, but gets MIST FINGERS in the eyes!! ROUNDHOUSE!! BUZZSAW!! Cover, ASUKA WINS!!!
Winner: Asuka, by pinfall (NEW Raw Women’s Champion)
Asuka found a way around the rules, and now SHE rules over all! The EST’s great reign comes to an end, will no one be ready for this wicked Empress?
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Natalya!
The Eradicator may have the blue brand’s belt, but she and The Judgment Day still run Monday Night Raw. However, the Queen of Harts says Rhea doesn’t show respect to anyone. Rhea disagrees, she does respect Natalya, which is why she’s going to do Natty the honor of ending her career! Will the world see Rhea’s brutality? Or will Natty win herself the greatest birthday present ever?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if we get another new champion tonight!
The bell rings and Dom talks trash on Natty. The ref reprimands, but Rhea CLOBBERS Natty from behind! Rhea stomps Natty out of the ring, goes out after her and BOOTS her at the desk! Then Rhea drags Natty up to SMACK her off the desk! “You ain’t nothing, Natty!” Rhea SMACKS Natty off the desk again, and again! Rhea RAMS Natty into the steel steps! Fans are torn but Dom is loving this. Rhea brings Natty around, and RAMS her into the other steel steps! Rhea drags Natty up, puts her in the ring, and then storms up to HEADBUTT Natty down! Rhea drags Natty up, pump handles and lifts, RIPTIDE!! Cover, Rhea wins!!
Winner: Rhea Ripley, by pinfall (still SmackDown Women’s Champion)
Brutality and agility, because that was fast and furious! Dom celebrates with Mami, and Rhea mockingly tells Natty happy birthday. Will nothing stop Rhea from eradicating every woman put in her way?
Backstage interview with Seth Rollins.
Byron Saxton is with the NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and Rollins wants Byron to do better than that. Say it with some oomph, some stank. The NEW~ World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Freakin’ Rollins. Yes, sounds so good! It has been a long, long time, nearly four YEARS, since Rollins held world championship gold. And tonight, on the night of nights, the starts are bright, and Rollins walks out our new WHC. That feels good! Feels right! Doesn’t it? Yes, right now. But what about going forward? What does the future of Raw look like with Rollins on top?
Oh, Sax Man, the more things change, the more they stay the same! Rollins will be live on Raw, and every Monday night moving forward, but the only difference will be that Rollins has world championship things on his mind! He is the Visionary, he is a revolutionary, and finally, he is world champion, Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins! HAHAHA!
Cody Rhodes VS Brock Lesnar!
The American Nightmare thought he finished this story at Backlash, but The Beast said nothing is over until he says it’s over! Lesnar has already broken Cody’s arm, but will he break Cody’s body, mind and spirit? Or can Cody pull off another miraculous victory to keep his own story going?
Fans sing Cody’s song, and we can see Cody has a titanium “Exos cast” to keep his arm together. Cody fires the fans up and has his pyro, but Lesnar grins because he sees that cast as a target. The bell rings and the two circle. Cody keeps the bad arm back but Lesnar approaches. Cody avoids being cornered and Lesnar nods. They circle again, Lesnar approaches again, but Cody again avoids being cornered. Cody bails out of the ring but Lesnar grins again. Cody says Lesnar wanted to fight, so let’s fight! Lesnar goes out after Cody, chases him around, they get back in the ring and Cody fires off hands!
But Lesnar RAMS Cody int a corner! And RAMS him again, and again! Lesnar clinches to OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Cody flounders and goes to the ropes while Lesnar grins. Fans chant “SUPLEX CITY!” and Lesnar hits another OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Cody flounders to ropes again, clutching the bad arm. Lesnar puts Cody in a corner to RAM him in again! And then OVERHEAD Belly2Belly again! Fans fire up as this makes three suplexes already. Lesnar stalks Cody, brings him up, but Cody ROCKS Lesnar with the cast hand! And again! And again! And again! Cody is going Cowboy Bob Orton on Lesnar!
Lesnar clinches Cody but Cody ROCKS him with the cast! Cody runs to RAM Lesnar out of the ring! Cody then builds speed, to DIVE! Cast first, too! Lesnar leans on the desk, Cody goes up to leap, AX HANDLE! Lesnar flounders into the ring, Cody climbs up, and he AX HANDLES again! Cover, TWO!! Lesnar survives taking titanium to the head again and again but fans fire up for Cody. Cody runs, springboards, BEAUTIFUL DISASTER KICK! Cody springboards again, CODY CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Lesnar is still hanging tough, but Cody is stalking him now. Cody roars and waits on Lesnar to rise!
Lesnar stands, Cody dragon sleepers, CROSS RHODES!! But Cody’s arm bothers him, he can’t make the cover! Lesnar rises again, those stitches popping open. Cody dragon sleepers, for another CROSS RHODES!! Fans are thunderous and Cody grits his teeth. Lesnar sits up in a daze, Cody shouts for him to get up again! Lesnar staggers up, Cody dragon sleepers again, but Lesnar spins around! KIMURA!!! Lesnar has the already busted arm, can Cody turn this around like he did at Backlash?! Cody moves around, reaches out, but Lesnar has the body scissors, too! Cody reaches out, fights up, but Lesnar drags him back down!
Fans are thunderously rallying for Cody as he keeps fighting, and he pushes forward again! TWO and Lesnar still has the arm! Lesnar shouts at Cody to give up but the fans rally! Cody pushes, Lesnar rolls it through and he is sitting up with the KIMURA!! Cody reaches out, he’s so close to the ropes! Cody claws at Lesnar’s back, fans rally behind him, but Cody is fading out! The pain is overwhelming him! The ref checks, but Cody comes back to life!! Lesnar is shocked but he keeps pulling on the bad arm! Cody scoots and crawls, he claws at Lesnar’s back more, and fans are thunderous! Cody starts to fade again, but he gets the ROPEBREAK!!
Lesnar lets go in frustration and the ref checks Cody. The cast is made of titanium but what is Cody made of!? Lesnar snarls, he storms back over to Cody and brings him up. Fireman’s carry, but Cody slips free! CROSS RHODES!!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Lesnar survives again, what is HE made of?! Both men sit up, Cody grabs Lesnar’s arm and ROCKS him with the cast! And again! And again! And again! But Lesnar fireman’s carries again!! F5!!! But Lesnar can’t make the cover, he’s too tired! Lesnar crawls over, pushes Cody to a cover, TWO!!?? Fans say “This is Awesome!”, but just what is it gonna take to end this?
Lesnar drags Cody into the KIMURA!! Lesnar makes Cody suffer again, and he sits back up with the hold! Cody is fading, the ref checks, and Cody is OUT!! Lesnar wins!!
Winner: Brock Lesnar, by referee stoppage
But Lesnar isn’t letting go! The ref shouts, the bell rings more, and Lesnar finally lets go! Cody sputters back awake, will he learn later that he could not win a fight with The Beast? As for Lesnar, is he finally going to let this chapter of the story end?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa w/ Paul Heyman!
Speaking of stories, it seems one story that has yet to end is the drama of the Prizefighter, the Great Liberator and The Bloodline. Kevin & Sami have all but broken up the Tribal Chief’s table, will this be the last straw? Or will Roman celebrate 1000 years as Universal Champion by becoming THE Undisputed Champion of WWE?
As always, Roman raises the belts for the pyro. The Bloodline continues down the ramp and into the ring, for Roman to raise the belts again for more pyro. Then Kevin and Sami make their entrances, Sami in a formal white robe. The fans sing Sami’s song as he and Kevin go down to the ring, and the champs are fired up! The introductions are made, Heyman interrupting to make his introduction for himself and the “soon to be NEW tag team champions. First, from the Island of Relevancy, the Sultan of the Spike, ladies and gentlemen, this is… SOLO! Ladies and gentlemen, on his 1000th day of a historic championship reign, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE! Universal! Heavyweight! Champion! ROMAN! REIGNS!!”
Heyman gives the mic back and says that’s how it is done. But Sami takes the mic now, and he says in Arabian that we should all hold on a second. Sami says that tonight, in this ring, it is the WWE Tag Team Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn! The fans are thunderous, the tag belts are raised, and we see what it truly takes to be tag team champions!
The teams sort out and as fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~” for Sami, Kevin starts against Roman. Fans fire up as the bell rings and the fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~” again. Roman gets annoyed, and Kevin realizes who should really start this match. Sami offers the hand, and Kevin tags him in! Roman smirks and nods as fans are thunderous for “SAMI! SAMI!” Roman gets annoyed as it keeps going, and he circles with Sami. Roman says no one would know who Sami is without him! Sami begs to differ, given the “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” returns. Roman gets annoyed and tags out to Solo, which fans boo.
Solo and Roman circle now while Roman cools off outside. Roman says he should’ve never let Sami into the Bloodline! The fans keep chanting for Sami, Roman yells at them, and the fans boo. Roman then tells Solo to take Sami out. Solo and Sami tie up, are in a deadlock, but Solo throws Sami away! Solo eggs Sami on, fans boo, and Sami comes back. They circle again, the fans are still thunderous, and the tension builds. The two tie up, Solo powers Sami to a corner, and the ref counts. Solo lets off, swings, but Sami dodges to CHOP! Sami backs away and eggs Solo on. Solo wipes it off, but Kevin fires the fans up more.
Solo and Sami tie up and Solo puts Sami in another corner. Solo CHOPS and ROCKS and rains down fists! The ref counts, Solo lets off and roars, but the fans boo. Roman soaks up the heat, Solo brings Sami up and whips him corner to corner. Solo runs in but into an elbow! Sami goes up, leaps, AX HANDLE! Fans fire up and Sami brings Solo up for more haymakers. Sami whips, Solo reverses and CLOBBERS Sami! Roman nods and tells Solo to keep going. Sami sits up, he looks to Kevin, and Kevin says sure, why not. Kevin tags in and fans fire up as Kevin fires haymakers on Solo! Kevin knees, ROCKS Solo and runs, but into an UPPERCUT!
Solo stalks Kevin to a corner, HEADBUTTS him, but Kevin COHPS! Solo SLAPS Kevin, Kevin kicks low, and the forearms go back and forth. Solo HEADBUTTS Kevin, but Kevin BOOTS back! Roman avoids the back elbow, but Kevin avoids Solo to CHOP and fire forearms. Kevin whips, Solo reverses but Sami tags in! Kevin KNEES Solo, Sami drop toeholds, and Kevin SENTONS! Fans are thunderous but Roman runs in to CLOBBER Kevin! Sami chases Roman off but Roman taunts him and the fans. And then Solo CLOBBERS Sami! Fans rally for Sami and that upsets Roman. Solo CHOKES Sami on the ropes!
The ref counts, Solo lets off, and then Roman CHOKES Sami behind the ref’s back! Fans boo but Roman gets away with it. Solo drags Sami from the ropes, scoops him and SLAMS him, then runs to FALLING HEADBUTT! Solo yells at Sami, then he drags Sami around. Solo stomps Sami in the stomach but the fans rally up. Roman is almost confused by this, but Solo keeps Sami from Kevin. Solo HEADBUTTS Sami down, and he tags Roman in. Fans boo as The Tribal Chief steps in, but he talks trash on them. Roman goes to Sami, stomps him and throws hands. Sami flounders against ropes and Roman stomps him down.
The ref reprimands, fans chant “ROMAN SUCKS!” but Roman CHOKES Sami on the ropes! The ref counts and Roman lets off at 4. Roman taunts the ref but the ref says respect his authority. Roman snap suplexes Sami and covers, TWO! Roman is upset but the ref says that count was fair. Fans boo Roman being a brat but he goes back to Sami. Sami stands to CHOP! Roman smirks, but Sami CHOPS again! Roman UPPERCUTS Sami off his feet. Roman brushes himself off, and says, “What? You think you’re the Nature Boy now?” Roman throws Sami out of the ring, distracts the ref, and Solo goes after Sami!
Solo throws hands, then he SMACKS Sami off the desk! But Kevin attacks back! The ref sees all this, Kevin points out what Solo was doing, and Sami gets to the apron. Roman goes out to put Sami in the ring, then he goes to a corner. Fans boo but Roman tells them to hush. Roman taunts Kevin, the ref keeps Kevin back, and Roman throws hands on Sami. Roman stomps Sami, but fans chant “ROMAN SUCKS!” Roman is annoyed by that, but then Sami throws body shots! And haymakers! Roman UPPERCUTS Sami back down! Roman winces, fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” but Roman frowns. Roman tags Solo and they drag Sami up.
The Bloodline mugs Sami, CLUBS him down, and the ref reprimands. Roman says okay, okay, and he exits. Sami crawls but Solo stomps him down. Solo drags Sami up, whips him, and SAMOAN DROPS him! Solo talks trash in Samoan and Roman says they’re the future tag team champions. Fans rally with “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~” but Solo drags Sami up. Solo clamps a claw into the shoulder but Sami endures. Sami fights up, fans fire up, and Sami throws body shots. Solo ROCKS Sami, TOSSES him out, and now Roman gets to go after Sami, but Sami ROCKS Roman first! Sami fires off hands and fans fire up!
Solo sees this, hurries out, but Sami sends Solo into the desk! Sami hurries into the ring and crawls, but Solo runs in to stomp him down! Solo brings Sami up, bumps him off buckles, then SUPERKICKS Kevin! Fans boo but Solo goes to Sami. Solo puts Sami up, SLAPS him, and talks trash. Fans rally, Sami gets mad, and he ROCKS Solo in return! And again, and then fires off rapid kicks! And then TORNADO DDTS! Both men are down, but fans rally as Kevin rises! Sami and Solo crawl, hot tags to Roman and Kevin! The Prizefighter dodges Roman to CHOP, and fire off haymakers! Fans fire up as Kevin stomps away!
The ref counts, Roman bails out, but Kevin goes out after him! Kevin LARIATS Roman down, then SENTONS on the floor! Fans fire up and Kevin puts Roman in the ring. Roman staggers up, swings, but misses! Kevin SUPERKICKS Roman down! Kevin goes to a corner, “SUCK IT!” but Solo is back! Kevin DECKS Solo, but Roman CLOBBERS Kevin! Fans boo and that annoys Roman again. Roman raises the finger, #HeTheOne. Roman locks ‘n’ loads, runs in, but Kevin avoids the Superman Punch! Roman avoids the lariat, returns, but into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! But Kevin just goes right up the corner!
Kevin aims to FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Roman survives but Heyman looks very worried! “This is Awesome!” while both men are down. Kevin rises first, he goes to another corner, and he waits on Roman to rise. Roman sits up, Kevin runs in and kicks! But Roman shoves Kevin away, Solo HOTSHOTS! Kevin staggers into the SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO! Kevin survives and Roman is in disbelief. Roman says, “I’M the champion! I’m gonna be the tag team champions now, you understand? I’m gonna have all the championships!” Fans boo Roman, which again upsets him. But Roman just goes to a corner and reloads.
Roman lets out the battle cry, he runs in, but into a KNEE! And a kick! And a STUNNER!! Roman rebounds to SPEAR!!! Both men are down and fans are thunderous! Heyman holds up the lei and tells the Tribal Chief to rise up. Roman raises his finger, crawls to the corner, but Sami is back! Kevin also crawls, hot tags to Solo and Sami! Sami rallies on the Enforcer of the island with haymakers from all sides! Sami whips, Solo reverses, but Sami goes up and over to then clothesline Solo out of the ring! Sami then builds speed to FLY! Direct hit at the ramp! Fans fire up as Sami powers back up!
Sami pushes Solo into the ring, fans sing again, and Sami gets around to a BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Solo is still in this and Heyman is still a bit worried. Fans rally up for Sami as he sits back up. Sami goes to a corner, he waits on Solo in the other. Fans are thunderous again, Solo stands up, and Sami runs in! HELLUVA- SUPERKICK!! Solo hits first, then roars and grabs Sami by the hair! SAMOAN- BOOT from Sami! And then a CORNER EXPLODER! Fans fire up as Sami reloads fast! HELLUVA KICK!!! Cover, Roman breaks it in time!! Fans can’t believe it but this isn’t over yet!
Roman scowls and talks trash on Sami. Roman tells the ref to get back and he rains down fists! The ref reprimands, fans boo, and Roman lets off to glare at the ref. Roman drags Sami up, fireman’s carries, but Sami fights free! Sami fires hands on Roman now! Roman shoves Sami back, Sami dodges but almost runs into the ref! Roan runs in, but Sami sends the SPEAR into the ref!!! Roman is furious, but then he realizes this is an opening. But Sami is locked ‘n’ loaded! He mocks Roman, and SUPERMAN PUNCHES him!! Fans fire up as Sami gets Roman with his own move! Sami then goes to the corner and mocks the “OOAH~!”
Sami runs in, but into a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Roman brings that outta nowhere, and he says Sami can’t be him. But then Kevin SPEARS Roman!! Kevin rains down fists on Roman, he and Roman bail out, and Kevin SMACKS Roman off the desk! Again and again, dribbling him like a basketball! Then Kevin RAMS Roman into steel steps! Fans fire up as Kevin clears off the Arabian announce desk! And then he clears off the American desk, too! Kevin drags Roman up and over, puts him on the American desk, but the USOS are here!?! They attack Kevin! And DOUBLE SUPERKICK him down!
The Usos get Roman out of the way, they beat down Kevin and then tip the desk onto him! The Usos then aim at Sami, SUPERKICK from Jey! SUPERKICK from Jimmy! Solo stands, but Sami ducks, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS hit Solo!!! Roman sees that and is furious! The Usos realize they messed up hitting their own brother, but Roman misunderstands! Roman asks them what the hell they’re even doing here anyway! They were told to stay home! The Usos try to explain, but Roman pie faces Jimmy! Jey says they’re just trying to help! Roman says they’re not helping! They’re disobeying him! He pie faces Jey now!
Roman tells Jey there ain’t no more Day One, but then JIMMY SUPERKICKS ROMAN!!! Even JIMMY is in disbelief!! Jey asks what the heck, Jimmy?! This is ROMAN! Why’d he do that?! Fans want that “ONE MORE TIME!” and then Jimmy tells Jey to listen for once! This is what they shoulda done years ago! SUPERKICK for Roman again!!! Jimmy is all fired up, Heyman is in disbelief! Jimmy says this is THEIR time now! Jimmy would never treat Jey like Roman’s treated them! They are BROTHERS! Jey goes to Roman’s side but Jimmy says no, the Usos are for the Usos, not for Roman!
The Usos leave, and fans fire up! Jey is still reluctant, but he still goes. Solo stands, he’s furious, but Kevin gives him a STUNNER!! Sami is back, he gives Solo a HELLUVA KICK!!!! Cover, but there’s no ref! Wait, a new one slides in! Cover, SAMI & KEVIN WINS!!
Winners: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, by pinfall (still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions)
Jey can’t believe what Jimmy’s done, but Jimmy says that’s what Roman gets! Roman himself is in disbelief over what just happened. Is this the last day The Bloodline is a faction? As for Kevin & Sami, could this be just the beginning of their own historic reign?
My Thoughts:
What an awesome Night of Champions! I can only nitpick using the phrasing of “triple main event” when, for one, only a match that closes the show is the main event. And even then, they didn’t have all three matches at the end to try and say they all closed the show. But WWE is gonna use phrasing however they want because they can. But given that, the World Heavyweight Championship opening was a surprise. I already said in the build to this that it was a given Rollins was going to win since it was Styles going against him and Styles is anchored to SmackDown with the OC. But I also said it was going to be an awesome match, which it was. Rollins has any number of possibilities for a first challenger, even with MITB coming and grabbing up a few people into the ladder match.
And great move to have Becky VS Trish follow, too, that was great stuff. Zoey Stark getting involved was a surprise I could not have called, but what a great spot for her to get in on. The feud with Candice LeRae and Nikki Cross just wasn’t working right, so Stark moving up into a big time story like this is great. I already sense a tag match of Trish & Zoey VS Becky and a returning Lita for an even bigger battle of generations. It also is a way to keep Becky out of the MITB picture, she’s above titles now.
And speaking of, great women’s title matches. I did not see either finish coming, and they were both rather creative. Rhea getting the jump on Natty thanks to Dom should’ve been a given, and Rhea beating Natty was itself a given, but I didn’t think it’d end up a squash. And then Bianca VS Asuka was great stuff, and it was also clear that the mist was gonna come into play. But great creativity for Asuka to miss with the spit attack to then go with mist soaked hands. Asuka winning was a surprise in itself, so this was a great way to do it that keeps Bianca strong and adds to Asuka’s Heel power. As I theorized on last night’s SmackDown, I’m thinking the Women’s MITB will factor into putting the right titles on the right shows, and I’d love for interactions between Rhea and this new sinister Asuka.
Gunther VS Ali was great stuff, and naturally the fans were on Ali’s side. But given the teasing of Riddle VS Gunther even with Ali being the winner of the battle royal, Ali was not going to get this title off Gunther. But it was a great match from Ali, so I hope this leads to something good for him, perhaps the MITB ladder match. Great stuff out of Cody VS Lesnar, and very clever that Cody would use his cast as a legal weapon in the match. But at the same time, Cody can’t be so overpowered, so passing out to the Kimura was the logical finish. Cody VS Lesnar Round 3 could easily be at MITB, but given Cody’s “broken” arm and Lesnar preferring the biggest paychecks possible, perhaps they save this for SummerSlam in Detroit, not MITB in London.
And of course, the one true main event was the tag title match because it also has the Bloodline story involved. I loved everything about that segment, but especially The Usos’ part to play. They took things into their own hands again even though Roman didn’t want them to, and then Jimmy finally snapped, Superkick’d Roman and we all cheered! Jimmy saying this is what they should’ve done all along was also a great detail, because it calls back to almost three years ago when Roman used Jimmy against Jey to make them both fall in line. This Bloodline Civil War stuff is going to be great, SmackDown next Friday is going to be huge.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Down The Wire: LeBron, Carmelo, Deandre Hopkins, OH MY!
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Down The Wire: No Coach is Safe, Over/Under NFL Win Totals, Are the Yankees Cheating?
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Down The Wire: NBA Playoffs, Bucks Coaching Search and NFL QB Tier List
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Hockey Talk- Choking Chokers [050923]
On this weeks Hockey Talk, Patrick & Dave look at some epic choke jobs that punctuated the end of the...
Down The Wire: Mike Budenholzer is Out, NFL Roster Ranking, Awards Season
Join the Brothers Wortz as they cover professional sports in an unprofessional manner!
Bandwagon Nerds #184: Killing In The Name Of
The Nerds take a leisurely stroll through the Trailer Park to review some of the latest big time trailers including...
The 5×5: SNL Musical Guests
This week, Patrick brings back the 5×5 with special guest PC Tunney and they present their five best and five...
Bandwagon Nerds #183: Willem DaF***in’ Dafoe
This week Patrick, Tunney and Rey gather on the Bandwagon for another week of nerdtastic greatness. With no movie or...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (5/10/23)
Get ready for a spectacle!
Bandwagon Nerds #182: Guardians Goodbye?
Patrick O’Dowd, David Ungar, PC Tunney and Aesop Mitchell hop onto this week’s Bandwagon and breakdown Guardians of the Galaxy...
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/28/23)
It's a battle of dark horses!
Mitchell’s WWE Night of Champions Results & Report! (5/27/23)
So much GOLD!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: Welcome to Rockville, Night of Champions and More!
DJ went to Welcome to Rockville, in Daytona and has a lot to talk about. Then, its back to the...
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (5/26/23)
The Acclaimed are on a Rampage!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (5/26/23)
The Eve of Champions!
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/26/23)
A Block VS B Block!
DWI Podcast #377: Left Handed Signature
Who will become the new World Heavyweight Champion at Night of Champions!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (5/25/23)
Z S JOE!
Use Your Head Trivia Podcast: Triple Threat
PC Tunney hosts, as Aesop, Dave and Rey battle it out for intellectual superiority on... USE YOUR HEAD TRIVIA!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (5/24/23)
Viva Las Vegas!
