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Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (11/22/22)

A Champion? Who is THE champion?

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NXT White 'n' Gold Era

Wes Lee and Carmelo Hayes finally settle things!

After going back and forth for the NXT North American Champion, Wes Lee and Carmelo Hayes go toe-to-toe one more time to put an end to this! Who will come out not just a champion, but THE A Champion?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Cora Jade VS Wendy Choo; Cora wins.
  • Kiana James VS Ivy Nile w/ Tatum Paxley; Ivy wins.
  • SCRYPTS VS Guru Raaj; SCRYPTS wins.
  • Zoey Stark VS Sol Ruca; Stark wins.
  • NXT Tag Team Championships: Pretty Deadly VS Andre Chase & Duke Hudson; Pretty Deadly wins and retains the titles.
  • NXT North American Championship: Wes Lee VS Carmelo Hayes; Wes wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Toxic Attraction heads to the ring!

Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne are fully recovered from what Alba Fyre did to them, and the Toxic Goddess, Mandy Rose, is STILL NXT Women’s Champion after what Isla Dawn did to Alba Fyre! They get the mics and Mandy starts with, “In the immortal words of Queen, another one bites the dust. But there is only one queen in the NXT ring. And after last week, without my girls, all by myself, I was the last Woman Standing.” Fans boo because Mandy’s glossing over the truth. But Mandy says at 400 days and counting, she has defended her title, and now NXT has to create this first-ever revolutionary match just to figure out who her next opponent’s gonna be!

The Iron Survivor Challenge makes Mandy a bit jealous. She’d love to add another title to her collection. But don’t worry, she will be watching NXT Deadline very, very closely. Mandy cannot wait to see who is willing to go to war just to share the same ring. We all know that after Deadline, the last woman standing won’t stand a chance in hell of taking the title off Mandy! And Jacy says with “Fyre Bat” out of their hair, and clearly having her own new drama to deal with, Mandy can sit upon the throne and await her next victim. Meanwhile, Jacy & Gigi will focus on becoming the first-ever THREE-TIME NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions!

Gigi says with every passing day, the lust to get the titles back becomes intolerable! Kayden & Katana, Gigi hopes you’re listening. Because unlike Zoey & Nikkita, a team that was a train wreck waiting to happen, this is a real team! And everyone can agree that #GoldenAttraction is where the money’s at! But wait! Here come the champions! Kayden tells Gigi to just shut up already! She is so sick of these three thinking they can say what they want and get what they want. Mandy says when you’re as good as the three of them, you can do whatever you want!

Katana says, “Oh please. You are so phony! Standing up there saying ‘I did this all by myself,’ when the only reason that you’re still champion is because of Isla Dawn.” Fans cheer Katana for telling the truth! Kayden says Mandy’s words aren’t the only things phony. Jacy asks if Kayden & Katana have a reason for interrupting. Yes, it’s that Toxic Attraction is THE train wreck waiting to happen. Gigi & Jacy, just look in the mirror! “You two spend all your time protecting Mandy because you know that if Mandy loses that NXT Women’s Championship, you two lose all meaning, all equity, and have no use for Mandy!”

Gigi says, “Do you know how much equity those titles have lost with the two of you holding them?” Kayden says NONE, cuz these titles finally belong to a respectable team! Jacy tells the “Munchkins,” the last time Jacy checked, Toxic Attraction made the two of them relevant! And seeing them with those titles makes Jacy sick! But don’t worry, once Jacy & Gigi get the belts back, Kayden & Katana will return to being irrelevant, just like before. Kayden rushes in and tackles Gigi! Jacy goes after Kayden but Katana gets in to CODE BREAKER! Mandy goes after Katana, Kayden goes after Mandy! But now they’re outnumbered, 3v2!

Fans boo as Katana gets set up for the TOXIC ANNIHILATION! Mandy SLAMS Kayden down right beside Katana, and Toxic Attraction stands tall. Will Gigi & Jacy prove they’re greater than KC Squared? Who will be the Women’s Iron Survivor to then go after the Toxic Goddess?

 

NXT shares footage from earlier today.

Wes Lee was just walking into the arena when Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo literally pull up. “There he is,” The Don says. “Mr. North American Champion.” Stacks says, “Yeah, for now.” Tony tells Wes that he hasn’t forgotten what he did to Tony’s leg. But he still wishes Wes luck tonight. Wes starts to defend his innocence, but then he says, “Forget it. When I’m finished with Melo, you know where to find me.” Oh, yeah? Yeah. Tony drives off to go park his Tahoe, but will he be pulling up to Wes again at the end of tonight?

 

Cora Jade walks and talks to gorilla.

“You think I’m afraid bringing up Wendy Choo’s past? If you never go too far, you’ll never go far in life. But you don’t know anything about that, because you, too, sat alone at the lunch table. Hit my music!” The Generation of Jade is becoming one part Mean Girls, one part punk rock. But will this mean girl punk get rocked by the Queen of Comfy?

 

Duke Hudson is reading the Chase U playbook.

But he hurries to put it away when Grayson Waller walks in the room. Waller is loving Duke’s dedication to the bit! But he is wondering, when does it all end? Duke says he doesn’t understand what Waller means. Waller says the flag waving, the “ChAsE U~” and hand signs, like, Waller’s known Duke for years! This isn’t Duke! But that’s where Waller is wrong. This IS Duke. Maybe not on the outside, but on the inside, Duke is a committed and dedicated student of Chase U. Now, anyone who talks bad on Chase U is Duke’s enemy. Pfft, right. Waller knows the real Duke and his real colors will show eventually.

Duke leans in and says his true colors are black ‘n’ red, mate. Waller laughs, thinking Duke is still playing a part. Waller heads off mocking “CHASE U~!” but will Duke teach him the hard way that Duke is Chase U for life?

 

Cora Jade VS Wendy Choo!

NXT returns and Wendy makes her entrance. The bell rings and fans rally for Wendy. She eggs Cora on, Cora steps up and Wendy SLAPS her! Wendy headlocks, thrashes Cora around, but Cora pulls hair. The ref reprimands, Cora powers out but Wendy runs her over! Wendy eggs Cora on, has her in the corner and dribbles her off buckles! And then off more buckles! Wendy CHOPS, then she bumps Cora off more buckles. Wendy forearms, CHOPS, and fires up! Fans rally as Wendy whips but Cora whips the back drop away, only for Wendy to run her over again! Cora crawls away while fans rally behind Wendy.

Wendy drags Cora up, wrenches and YANKS the arm, then wrenches again to YANK again. Wendy wrenches again and whips Cora around and around to WRING her out! Wendy keeps on Cora with a hammerlock but Cora fights up. Cora elbows free, runs, and runs Wendy over! Cora “kicks dirt” at Wendy then runs, but Wendy stays low. Cora rolls over, Wendy sidesteps and hip tosses her down! Fans fire up while Cora goes to ropes. Cora uses the ropes as defense and the ref backs Wendy down. Cora kicks low and whips Wendy into the ropes! Cora then runs to BACK ELBOW Wendy down! Fans boo as Cora HAMMERS away!

Cora drags Wendy up to dribble her off the m at! Wendy gets to ropes, Cora CLUBS her down then eggs her own. Cora pulls Wendy’s pigtail to scoop, but Wendy slips out to roll-up! TWO, and Wendy DROPKICKS Cora down! Cora ends up in a corner, Wendy runs side to side to BOOT Cora! Wendy snapmares, but Cora avoids the sleepy elbow! Cora runs in and springboards, but Wendy avoids the stomps! Wendy drags Cora out, but Cora counter punches! Cora runs in, into a JAPANESE ARM-DRAG! Fans fire up and Wendy gest on the apron as NXT goes picture in picture!

Wendy eggs Cora on, but Cora crawls away. Wendy hops down to drag Cora up and ROCK her with a forearm. Wendy bumps Cora off the apron, pushes her into the ring, and Wendy hurries after Cora in a corner. Wendy ROCKS Cora, whips her out to send her back in, but Cora elbows back! Wendy ROCKS Cora again, whips her to another corner, then runs in. Cora dodges to SHINING WIZARD! Wendy flops down and Cora paces around. Cora stomps Wendy, drags her up and LARIATS her down! Cover, TWO! Cora smirks as she looms over Wendy. Cora stomps Wendy to a corner, digs her boot in, but lets off as the ref counts.

Cora swaggers about, runs in, and BRONCO BUSTERS! Cora then drags Wendy to a cover, TWO! Cora smirks and nods, amused by Wendy’s toughness. Wendy throws body shots but Cora CLUBS her down! Cora stomps Wendy to the ropes, drags her up and CHOKES her! The ref counts again, Cora lets off, and Cora swaggers around again. Cora runs to IMPLODER STOMP! Cover, TWO! Wendy is hanging tough but Cora looms over her. Cora taunts Wendy, pulls on her arms, and she gets the motorcycle stretch! Wendy endures and fans rally up. Wendy fights up, turns things around, but Cora turns it back onto Wendy!

Cora pulls harder on the arms, digs her knee into Wendy’s back, but Wendy still endures. Wendy fights but Cora keeps on those arms. Fans continue to rally as NXT returns to single picture, and Wendy fights up to her feet! Wendy arm-drags Cora away! Wendy runs but into a drop toehold onto ropes! Cora runs but Wendy dodges! Cora hits ropes and flounders! Wendy fires off body shots, KICKS and a LARIAT! Cora flounders again but Wendy whips her to ropes. OVERHEAD Belly2BellY! Cora staggers up and Wendy fires up! Fans fire up with her and she handspring clotheslines! Wendy goes up the corner, to SLEEPY CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!

Wendy grits her teeth and fans rally up behind her. Wendy drags Cora up, suplexes, but Cora slips free. Cora waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, TWO!! Cora kicks low, but Wendy wrenches through to suplex, BRAINBUSTER! Wendy puts Cora in a drop zone and goes up the corner! Fans rally as Wendy reaches the top. Cora moves, Wendy hops back down, but Cora kicks her! Cora grabs her kendo stick! Cora swings, Wendy dodges and BOOTS! Cora flops down and Wendy gets the kendo stick! Fans fire up but the ref says don’t do it! Wendy argues with the ref, but Cora gets the thermos! Cora SPLASHES Wendy with her own orange juice!! And then BUTTERFLY DDT!! Cover, Cora wins!

Winner: Cora Jade, by pinfall

Cora laughs at Wendy, but the ref questions what’s all over the mat and now his hands. Cora pretends to have no idea. Wendy cries, which makes Cora laugh more. Will Wendy make sure Cora’s the one in tears next time?

 

Apollo Crews speaks.

“Deadline: a time or date when things should be completed. On Saturday, December 10th, I have the opportunity to complete something I came back to NXT to accomplish. Six months to almost the day when I looked Bron Breakker in the face and I said I envisioned you and me, Bron, making history together. And now, here it is: Bron Breakker, Apollo Crews, for the NXT Championship. These three weeks will be the longest three weeks of my life, because I’ve never wanted the bell to ring so bad in my life.

“I’ve been in many title matches, won the United States Championship, walked out of WrestleMania the Intercontinental Champion, but this match against Bron Breakker is the one I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about. Six months ago, I said I’m back to rewrite history, to change history, and to make history. The weight of being champion has taken its toll on Bron, I can see it on his face. I can see it in his eyes. But when you look into my eyes, the vision, the ending is clear.” Will Apollo make his vision a reality come Deadline? Or will Bron end up breaking another iconic superstar?

 

Backstage interview with Kiana James.

McKenzie Mitchell says we are moments away from Kiana’s match with Ivy Nile, and Kiana says that Ms. Nile may be tough, but there isn’t a woman Kiana sits across the boardroom from or stands across the ring from that intimidates her. Kiana doesn’t count wins, just losses, because there are so few. Then does that include not getting the deed to Fallon Henley’s bar? Kiana says that deal fell through because of stupidity, and they paid for it with interest last week. Now, if you’ll excuse her, she has a match to win. But before McKenzie cuts away, Javier Bernal walks in.

Javier says last week, McKenzie deprived the NXT Universe of seeing “The Greatest NXT Superstar” unlock his full potential. Not this time! He has something bigger than three names. Behold! The Big Body Javi Files. What is this? Santa’s naughty and nice list? How many names are on this!? Javi says 1347. Oh. Well number one, and wow, really? Axiom? She told Javi last week that Axiom is hurt! Still? That guy’s soft. Uh, his leg was completely bent backwards! Then keep going. Number 14… Elon Musk?! Why would Javi wanna fight him? Hey, he’s not paying $8 for a blue checkmark! How many followers does Javi have? T-Two… Thousand! MILLION!

Two thousand million? That’s not really a number. What? What? WHAT?! Just keep reading!! Okay, number 68: Drake. Drake Maverick? Oh, haha, another person not available. NO, Drake the rapper. What? What’s his beef with that Drake? Uh, did you hear his last album? Then number 250… This guy’s retired, too. Well, is he? Legends say they’re retired, but they always come back for “One! More! Match!” And what about having that “one more match” with Big Body Javi? Never say never! Well, Javi, you’re not fighting anyone on this list. Uh, it’s not a list, it’s a file. And at this rate, he’ll be fighting McKenzie! Javi storms off, is at least ONE of his 1347 choices be a real option?

 

Duke Hudson meets up with other Chase U students.

One student says Mr. Kenwa’s AWA class is so tough! And Thea Hail says Mr. Shabu’s pop quiz would’ve been so much harder without the head’s up. They thank Duke for that. He says it’s no big deal. No one likes pop quizzes. But uh, he does accept gifts. Ha, good one. No, he means it. But then Pretty Deadly walk in and mockingly laugh. The honorary Duke Hudson of Chase U fame, these two have a proposition: There is a poker game tonight, and they could use a ringer to help them clean up. Does Duke fancy a go? Sorry, boys, Duke would rather stay here with his classmates.

Wait, what? Is Duke serious? They joke about the poker game and Duke doesn’t even react! Well serious or not, gambling is against school policy. Duke, when are you going to take off that disgusting school uniform and go back to being the Duke they know he really is. Not that that Duke was great, but at least he tried to look good doing it. Nowadays, Duke’s just a stooge. Duke DECKS Elton Prince, then fights with Kit Wilson! Thea wants in but the others keep her back! Duke fights Pretty Deadly 2v1, but they RAM him into the storage lockers! Referees rush in to break this up! Kit & Elton pushed Duke too far, will Duke find a way to fight back?

 

Kiana James VS Ivy Nile w/ Tatum Paxley!

As smart and business savvy as The Calculator is, she couldn’t account for family memories and principles being stronger than her money. Will Kiana move on to more important business like climbing the ranks towards the title? Or will the Diamond Pitbull tear her to shreds and move on to Deadline herself?

NXT returns as Ivy makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two tie up. Ivy powers Kiana back to ropes but lets off as the ref counts. Kiana shoves Ivy, but Ivy shoves Kiana! Kiana headlocks, Ivy pries at the hold but Kiana holds on tight. Fans rally up and Ivy pries the hold open to arm-drag! Ivy headlocks back, shifts sides and wrenches to a wristlock. Kiana pries the hold to wrench and trip Ivy. Ivy slips away and the two reset. Kiana and Ivy circle, fans rally for Ivy but Kiana shoots around to full nelson. Ivy breaks it, sunset flips, TWO! Ivy facelocks to keep Kiana down and she moves around to wrench the hold.

Kiana fights up, wrenches out and pulls hair to hit a BACKBREAKER, and BLINDSIDE LARIAT! The ref reprimands and fans boo but Kiana taunts Ivy. Kiana stomps Ivy, reels her in, gut wrenches and carries Ivy in the Canadian Rack. CANADIAN BACKBREAKER! Ivy writhes but Kiana pushes her to a cover, TWO! Fans rally up for Ivy but Kiana facelocks. Ivy fights up, throws body shots, but Kiana whips Ivy to a corner. Ivy bounces off buckles and Kiana scoops to a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kiana snarls but she clamps claws into Ivy’s shoulders! Kiana JAMS her knee in, and again, then pushes Ivy down to cover, TWO!

Kiana pushes Ivy around, grabs a leg and has a CALF CRUSHER! Ivy endures, reaches out, claws around, and she grabs Kiana for a chinlock! Kiana lets the leg go to fight up and back suplex! Cover, TWO! Kiana grows frustrated but she drags Ivy up to scoop again. Ivy slips through to CLUB away on Kiana! Ivy then hooks Kiana up to bend the arms back! Kiana endures the “Diamond Octopus,” and Ivy YANKS the arm! Kiana staggers and fumes, but she storms up into a roll-up! TWO, but Ivy hurries up to KICK and KICK and ROUNDHOUSE! Kiana wobbles, Ivy RANAS her down! Ivy keeps moving and she shoulder tackles Kiana!

Ivy gut wrenches and SUPLEXES! Fans fire up with Ivy and she runs in at Kiana to DROPKICK her out of the ring! Kiana gets to her feet, she says she’s done, but she turns around to see Fallon Henley there! Fallon tells Kiana off about attacking her last week and Kiana hurries back into the ring. Ivy swings Kiana around, into the DIAMOND DRAGON SLEEPER! Kiana taps, Ivy wins!

Winner: Ivy Nile, by submission

But Kiana’s suffering isn’t over, Fallon gets in the fire off forearms! Kiana runs away but Fallon pursues and fires off more in front of commentary! They go all the way to the back, will Fallon teach Kiana not to mess with family?

Meanwhile, the Creed Brothers appear to cheer on Ivy in her win, and Julius says, “Ivy Nile continues to prove that she is the most dangerous woman in NXT! She’s underappreciated. But you still don’t see her running around jumping people like Indus Sher! These guys think they’re gonna make their names on the backs of the Creed Brothers. I don’t think so! We’ve been bodying dudes that’re bigger and stronger than us our entire lives! Ask Nick Gwiazdowski, two-time world medalist. He can get frequent flyer miles whenever he wanted. Ask Sam Stolk!” Ivy has Julius stop there.

But Brutus says the point is this: Intimidation doesn’t affect the Creeds. They’ve worked too damn hard to be worried about anything with a heartbeat! Indus Sher walks around wanting respect after attaching the Creeds? Well that’s the last thing they’re gonna get! Julius tells Veer & Sanga that they might have the admiration of all of India, but when it comes to set foot in the ring, it’s just them and the Creeds. NXT Deadline, Indus Sher VS Julius & Brutus Creed! “If you guys want respect, try and come get it!” Ivy tries to get the boys to focus on what really matters, but are the Creeds hitting back before Indus Sher strikes again?

 

Isla Dawn speaks.

“The light of your fire, Alba, was met by the darkness of the Unholy Enchantress. But I did give fair warning of my approach. But you did not heed the signs. No one saw the ethereal thing materializing before their very eyes. But Alba, for any answers you seek, you must listen. Listen to the same spirit voices that have guided me straight to you. Alba, we’re gonna have so much fun together!” Isla laughs and blows out her candles, but will she end up burned by the Fyre she’s playing with?

 

Andre Chase speaks with one of his students.

“We’ve been over this countless times. The Elimination Chamber debuted as Survivor Series 2002-” Duke flops into the room! He’s sputtering as he asks Mr. Chase for help. But he’s in a meeting with Mario! Duke ran here because he remembered Chase talking about leaving it in the ring. Yes, he did say that. Well, Duke says he couldn’t do it, he punched him! Duke, you can’t get into fights with fellow students. No, not a classmate! It was Pretty Deadly. Who? The… Hold on, Duke’s gotta catch his breath. The two with the long hair and half shifts. They were talking bad on Chase U! They were?! Yeah, so Duke had to double down and then everyone rushed in.

Wait, were there any repercussions? Did he get fined? No no no. He doubled down and got them a tag title match. Wait, really?! When!? Tonight. TONIGHT?! Duke, that’s great! Mario also says that’s great! Chase asks Mario WTF he’s still doing in his office. Get out so they can prepare! Duke, way to go! Chase says they gotta game plan right now! But will Duke be alright after gassing himself to go find Mr. Chase?

 

SCRYPTS VS Guru Raaj!

The mysterious messages, both audio and visual, finally have a face to the name! Scrypts flips his way out to the ring and walks the tightrope as he writes his name in the air. But will Raaj be able to flip the script and end the story before it begins?

The bell rings and Scrypts handsprings right up to Raaj! Scrypts writes Raaj off already, but Raaj rushes in. Scrypts gets around Raaj, slips under and KANGAROO KICKS, then kips up! Raaj wobbles, Scrypts DROP-SAULTS! Scrypts brings Raaj up, whips him to ropes but Raaj reverses, only for Scrypts to slide under his double stomps! Scrypts kicks low, clinches and whips Raaj to a corner. Fans start chanting “REGGIE! REGGIE!” as Scrypts runs in, but into an elbow! Scrypts shrugs that off, Raaj lariats but Scrypts handsprings under it! Scrypts mule kicks, front kicks, then TWISTING CROSSBODIES!

Scrypts rains down fists on Raaj, then drops an elbow! Scrypts goes to the corner, writes in the air then climbs up the corner, for the PUNCTUATION! Cover off the somersault seated senton, Scrypts wins!

Winner: SCRYPTS, by pinfall

The first chapter in the story is complete, and it was a success for the mysterious scribe. He leaves Raaj with his card, but will Scrypts leave his mark on NXT?

 

The Schism is in the ring.

Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, Jagger Reed & Ava Raine sit at a table, bathed in the black light that turns their yellow smiling masks red. Rip is “Gluttony,” Gacy is “Invictus,” Raine is “Oath,” and Reed is “Greed” while fans boo. The masks come off and the lights return to normal. Gacy says, “Autumn is the time of year when trees shed their leaves, and The Schism’s tree is no different. We shed the transgressions of those against us and we reflect on what togetherness has brought to our lives. This week, we recognize a day for giving thanks. And it is our duty to reinforce the meaning of a day meant for togetherness and something to be thankful for.”

Ava speaks next. “Every year, stories are told of families being torn apart by Thanksgiving. Despite the American tradition of quality time shared with loved ones, dysfunction remains the norm. Blood relatives cannot guarantee a united family. But The Schism can be counted on.” Some fans cheer that message, and Rip speaks next. “A day to be grateful that you have enough to fed yourselves during the darkest of times has exploded into a ritual of overabundance, and embarrassment of riches.” Ava exits the ring while Rip continues to rant that “Gluttony that cannot be contained has left this holiday a far cry from it’s intent.”

Ava seems to be looking in the crowd for something… She points to someone in the front row and he hops over the railing. Reed says, “Thanksgiving is now anticipated more for Black Friday deals. The deals creep in earlier and earlier each year, so that you can forego Thanksgiving altogether in hopes of grabbing that new hot item, when you should be focused on your belief system.” Ava welcomes this fan into the ring and into the open chair at the middle of the table. Gacy says Ava has found someone who practices the traditions of Thanksgiving and brought them here. As you can see, their table is bare so that it is open for new opportunities to forge new traditions.

Gacy turns to the fan and says tonight we christen a new holiday. This man will be the bridge to the old traditions they leave behind, and to the new ones they will forge, which will “forever lasting traditions.” Fans chant, “Sacrifice! Sacrifice!” Are they anticipating something? Gacy says this man’s inclusion will be the centerpiece of their table. Now please, stand with them as they pledge “The Day of Schism Invictus.” They all stand, and Gacy leads them in the pledge. “We pledge on this day of Schism Invictus to refuse anyone who is not The Schism, and build strength through togetherness. Four roots, one tree.”

Ava welcomes the guest into a hug, and Gacy says it is too late to join. They are no longer inclusive. They are now DIVISIVE! What? Gacy thanks this man for his sacrifice. Fans cheer as Gacy URENAGES the guest through the table! Happy Schism Invictus! But will this tradition lead the Schism to titles and supremacy over the masses they rejected?

 

Backstage interview with Trick Williams.

McKenzie notes this was to be an interview with both Trick and Melo, but it doesn’t seem Melo is joining them. Trick says that is because The A Champion is in The A Locker Room preparing for his A PLUS performance tonight. But don’t worry, Trick Willy will answer all your questions. He is sure McKenzie is good enough to work on the fly, so fire away. Then what are his thoughts on- Trick says, “Wes Lee’s Cinderella Man story ends tonight! Melo’s gonna beat that bitter bad man into an oblivion. And then I can’t wait to hear them say, ‘THREE-TIME NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION!'”

But then Wes appears! Trick puts up his dukes but Wes says settle down. Don’t stop on his account, continue to talk how money Melo is. Well okay, Melo looks like money, walks like money, and talks like money because Melo IS money. Interesting. So then, Melo has this in the bag tonight? Is water wet? So then, Trick doesn’t need to be out there. He can watch Melo take the L from the locker room. Whoa, Melo ain’t taking the L. And Trick Melo Gang is a package date, they go out there together. Hmm… Well, Melo needs Trick to win? Oh, Trick sees what Wes is trying to do. But now he’s caught! Is Trick saying it without saying it?

McKenzie, Trick thought you were on his side! No, she’s an unbiased reporter. Trick says Melo doesn’t need Trick to win! He doesn’t? Then it’ll be just Wes and Melo out there tonight? That’s putting words in Trick’s mouth! Wes says see ya later. Trick just got got! Will Melo be A-OK without his sidekick? Or will Wes prove HE’s the A Champion now?

 

Bron Breakker speaks.

“After a big match, this is where you can find me. Just out here.” He puts his boat in the water and goes cruising. “Out here, I don’t have to be Bron Breakker, the guy that smashes people. I’m just a regular guy. I’m just another fisherman out here. What I love most about being out here is just how quiet it is.” Bron casts his line and waits. “Being the NXT Champion comes with a lot of weight, a lot of responsibility. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. Just takes a toll after awhile. In the beginning, I felt like Superman. It’s just all excitement and no real expectations. But as time goes on, there’s more weight, there’s more pressure. That’s why I come out here.

“As it gets colder and winter comes in, my experience is, these fish slow down, they’re not as active in the wintertime, so that forces me to broaden my bait choice and throw some different things that have some movement or some action to it to get these fish to react to it. This is my escape. This is where I can come and drop all that weight. Because when I go back ashore, I’ve got competitors coming at me from all directions. All the heavy hitters. Apollo Crews, he’s next. When one challenge ends, another begins. Apollo’s right. Three weeks, NXT Deadline, the weight goes back on. And after I retain my title, you know where you can find me.”

 

Zoey Stark VS ???

Angry, bitter, but not one to mess with, the Sin City Soldier gets back in action as a solo star. Will she show everyone that she’s the only one that matters?

NXT returns and Sol Ruca makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Zoey waistlocks and SLAMS Sol, then facelocks to dig Sol’s face into the mat. Sol gets up and circles with Zoey again. They tie up again, Zoey headlocks, Sol lifts her but Zoey flying-mares for the takedown. Sol moves around to keep her shoulders up, and she handstands to walk out of the headlock! Sol eggs Zoey on and Zoey runs right into a drop toehold! Sol floats over to a facelock but Zoey fights up. Zoey wrenches out to WRING the arm, but Sol one-hand handsprings through! Only for Zoey to KNEE low!

Zoey bumps Sol off buckles, then hip tosses her, but Sol handsprings through that, too! Fans fire up as Sol eggs Zoey on. Zoey rushes in but Sol hurdles over and DROPKICKS Zoey down! Zoey goes to a corner, Sol storms in but into a SUPERKICK! But Sol SUPERKICKS back! Zoey claims something’s wrong with her jaw, but that’s so she can SUCKER SUPERKICK Sol! Cover, TWO! Zoey drags Sol up, but Sol ROCKS Zoey with a forearm then LARIATS! Zoey bails out but Sol calls her a chicken. Sol baseball slides, into an apron skirt trap! Zoey fires off haymakers! The ref reprimands, fans boo, but Zoey leaves Sol behind, to then WRECK Sol with a dropkick!

Zoey puts Sol back in the ring, slides in and covers, TWO! Zoey fishhooks Sol’s face, the ref reprimands, and Zoey lets off at 4. Zoey CLUBS Sol with crossface forearms, then wraps on a chinlock. Fans rally and Sol endures while Zoey thrashes her. Sol fights up, throws body shots, but Zoey CLUBS Sol down. Zoey snarls, whips Sol to a corner, but Sol dodges to roll Zoey up! TWO! Sol elbows Zoey away, then runs to run her over! Fans fire up with Sol’s flying shoulders and DROPKICK! Sol dodges Zoey to back drop her high and hard! Cover, TWO! Sol hurries to go to the corner and climb up! But Zoey GAMANGIRIS her down!

Zoey drags Sol up, Sol shoulders in then slingshot sunset flips! TWO! Sol brings Zoey up to whip to the corner, then she handsprings in to SPLASH! Sol scoops Zoey to POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Zoey survives and Sol is frustrated! Fans fire up as Sol goes up the corner again. Sol leaps, but Zoey avoids the dropkick to SLIDING KNEE! Cover, Zoey wins!

Winner: Zoey Stark, by pinfall

The Hunter takes down her prey, but now she picks at the bones! But wait, here comes Nikkita Lyons! Zoey goes out to meet her, but Lyons ROCKS her first! Lyons gets in the ring, blocks the superkick and DECKS Zoey! Zoey stagger sup, but she avoids the heel kick! Zoey says they’re not doing this now, they’re doing this on her time. Will the Hunter quickly become the hunted with Lyons on the prowl?

 

Malik Blade & Edris Enofe talk with someone.

Malik tells them that “Big O” Odyssey Jones has room for one more if they wanna join in. And there’ll be plenty of ladies, too. Edris knows they haven’t always seen eye to eye with Von Wagner & Robert Stone, but Edris & Malik are trying to be the bigger men here. And they’re sure Von is upset after losing to Bron, but that was last week. They know for a fact Von will get back on top, just like them! Onward and upward! Von says Malik sure is looking sharp. And they’ve got lots of swag. Von’s not sure about Rob, but he’s got his dancing shoes on! Nice! Von takes off the jacket, and Edris says big Von Wagner, Malik, Edris and Odyssey, it’ll be a fun night!

Yeah, Von could use a night out being mediocre for once. Stone laughs at that one. Onward and upward, was it? These guys don’t know about that! They don’t know about success! They never will see him hang out with “you two losers.” Who’s Von calling losers?! Malik has Edris calm down, but Von DECKS Malik then KNEES Edris! Von TOSSES Edris into the cars! Von DECKS Malik again, CLUBS Edris, then he goes after Malik! Security rushes in but Von shoves them away! Von RIPS Malik’s sweater vest!!! Odyssey storms over and Von backs off now. Odyssey checks on Malik. Will Odyssey #SoundTheAlarm and look for vengeance on vicious Von?

 

Charlie Dempsey speaks.

“All these new workouts… CrossFit? Power yoga? Circuit training? Just give me a good ol’ fashioned deck of cards. Legends like Carl Gotch and Billy Robinson didn’t have all this technology and equipment. All they had was their bodies. I train like they trained for performance. But I’m surrounded by people who train to look cool for Instagram. Guys like Wes Lee, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller, they spend their mornings choosing their outfits while I wake up and do 5003 squats before breakfast. There’s a lot of pretend tough guys in that locker room with their beach muscles. They even gave a security guard a contract, for pity’s sake.

“But I’ll have them all screaming when I stretch them in the ring. Because professional wrestling is a serious business.” Will Dempsey prove to NXT that sports entertainers don’t stand a chance against him?

 

NXT Tag Team Championships: Pretty Deadly VS Andre Chase & Duke Hudson w/ Thea Hail!

After Grayson Waller questioned Duke’s genuineness, Elton Prince & Kit Wilson pushed Duke’s buttons, and he just couldn’t help it! But that fight turned into a title match! Will this be a #TeachableMoment for the dandy highwaymen? Or will the #SidePlateCheck continue to show Pretty Deadly’s logo?

NXT returns and the champions make their entrances. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who pasts the test here tonight!

The teams sort out and fans rally for Chase U. Chase wants to start, but Duke sees Elton rushing up, so Duke CLOBBERS him first! Duke is starting now, and Chase tells him to fight smarter, not harder. But then Elton tags out to Kit. Duke rushes in to CLOBBER Kit! Duke whips Kit to a corner, scoops him on the rebound, and hits a BIG sidewalk slam! Cover, TWO! Duke brings Kit up, tags in Chase, and they double whip Kit to drop toehold and elbow drop! Chase covers, TWO! Chase drags Kit up, but Kit stomps a foot! Kit elbows Chase, Chase kicks back, but Kit fires off forearms! Chase gets around to lift Kit but Elton tags in!

Chase gives Kit the atomic drop, but Elton hops up onto Chase’s shoulders. Kit throws a body shot and that helps Elton with the victory roll! TWO!! Chase escapes, blocks a kick and body scissors to roll Elton! TWO, Elton trips Chase but Chase twists and throws him away! Chase headlocks for a takeover! Fans rally for “CHASE U! CHASE U!” but Elton fights up. Elton powers out, Chase runs Elton over! Chase runs, things speed up, Elton DROPKICKS Chase down! Fans boo but Kit says, “Yes Boy~!” Elton puts Chase in the corner, tags Kit, and they double whip to run Chase over. “Yes Boy~!” They both run to LEG DROP SPLASH COMBO! Kit covers, TWO!

Kit wrenches Chase to whip, but Chase kicks him away! Chase then headlocks, but Kit powers out. Chase goes up and under to then trip Kit! Kit throws Chase but Chase cartwheels through! Chase RAMS Kit, snapmares him and runs, but Kit catches the legs! Only for Chase to roll and drag Kit down! Cover, TWO!! Kit escapes but Chase headlocks again. Kit reaches out to Elton but Chase kicks the foot away! Elton storms in, but Chase back drops him while holding onto Kit! Elton staggers up, Chase jumps up, RANA HEADLOCK TAKEOVER COMBO! Fans fire up for Chase, and he says that is a TEACHABLE MOMENT!

The champs rush Chase, he dodges, and Duke runs in! Duke CLOBBERS Elton, Kit comes back, into a double back drop! Chase whips Kit, Kit reverses but Chase reverses back to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! And time to spell it out! “C! H! A! S! E! U!” “What’s that spell?!” “CHASE U~!” Fans are all fired up as NXT goes to break!

NXT returns again and Chase uppercuts Elton! Chase runs, but into an elbow! Elton snarls and he kicks Chase around. Fans boo Elton then rally up again as Elton drags Chase up. Chase JAWBREAKERS free! Kit hurries out to fetch Elton, but then Thea points it out and Duke storms over that way! Kit hurries back to his corner, but this leaves Chase without someone to tag! Elton CLOBBERS Chase from behind! Duke goes back to his corner but Elton stomps a mudhole in the open corner. Elton fires off point-blank clotheslines, the ref counts, but Elton lets off. Elton has Chase on ropes, wraps on a cobra clutch, and he tags in Kit.

Elton ripcords Chase for a double kick. DOUBLE CLUB! And then Pretty Deadly both stomp Chase’s hands! Pretty Deadly mock Duke with Scott Hall fingers, then they stomp Chase down. Tag to Elton, Kit wrenches and traps Chase. Elton goes up to DOUBLE AX HANDLE! Cover, TWO! Chase is hanging tough but Elton tags Kit. They double whip Chase but he holds ropes! Chase BOOTS Elton, ROCKS Kit, reaches for Duke, but Elton rushes over. Chase throws Elton out, but Elton falls on Thea! Duke is furious and he chases Elton off, but he again leaves Chase without a tag! Duke hurries back but Kit RAMS Chase all the way to the Pretty Deadly corner!

Elton tags in, Kit holds Chase in place for the UPPERCUT! Feed to a fireman’s carry, ASSISTED GUT BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Chase is hanging tough and fans fire up! Elton clamps onto Chase to keep him down and then drags him up. Fans rally and Chase DECKS Elton! Both men are down, Elton realizes he has to stop Chase, but Chase crawls under him! Hot tags to Kit and Duke! Duke rallies on the champions with big haymakers and elbows! Scoop SLAM for Elton, scoop SLAM for Kit onto Elton! Then Duke scoops Chase to SLAM him onto Elton! Fans fire up and Duke raises the roof! Duke JABS Kit, and JABS, and JABS, and JABS!

Duke flips, flops ‘n’ flies! CHASE U ELBOW!! Cover, Elton breaks it! Duke throws body shots on Elton then TOSSES him out! Fans fire up and Duke tags in Chase! Chase is wobbly, though! Duke wants Chase to finish this, and he hauls Kit up. But Elton runs in! Chase DECKS Elton! Duke Gory Especials Kit, slings him out, but Kit drops and the BOOT hits Chase!! Duke can’t believe what just happened, but Elton drags Duke out! Elton RAMS Duke into steel steps! Tag and SPILT MILK!! Cover, Pretty Deadly wins!!

Winners: Pretty Deadly, by pinfall (still NXT Tag Team Champions)

Chase U’s student section cannot believe it! Kit & Elton escape by the seat of their fancy pants, will anyone be able to stop them? Chase sighs but he isn’t upset with Duke. Will they go back to the drawing board and work on a way back to the titles?

 

NXT shares Roxanne Perez’s video.

It was an an NXT Live event last Saturday that Roxie was making some TikTok vids and she with Nikkita Lyons. Roxie asked Lyons about the matches that night, but then Indi Hartwell just storms over to tell Roxie there are NO friends in this business! Indi says Roxie is being all friendly with Lyons but she can’t even be a good friend to Indi and watch her match! Roxie said she did! Indi said how could Roxie have watched Indi’s match when she’s over here recording stuff with Nikkita?! They were talking ABOUT Indi’s match!

Indi didn’t accept that answer, and then via Elektra Lopez’s video of this same incident, the argument got so heated that other superstars came over to try and cool it off. Lopez says, “Seems like I’m not the only one who has a problem with Indi Hartwell.” La Madrina is stirring the pot, but Indi is already pretty heated on her own. Indi and Roxie settle things in a match next week, who gets burned when this reaches a boiling point?

 

Kayden & Katana regroup backstage.

They agree that Toxic Attraction only stood tall in that brawl because it was 3v2. But then Lyons says hey. What does she want? She admits that she said some stuff leading up to their tag title match, but she doesn’t regret it. Well, neither do they. But Lyons also admits KC Squared was right. Lyons & Stark were never a real team. And yes, she knows everyone’s been saying that they weren’t partners for very long, but it’s just that Lyons looked up to Zoey and admired her. Can you blame her? But then we didn’t know the real Zoey until she hit Lyons upside the head with a title belt. Katana appreciates Lyons saying this, and knows that the tag titles can make or break friendships.

Kayden agrees, but says the break-up isn’t on Lyons. The champs know Lyons is a badass. And if Zoey can’t see that, that’s her loss. Katana says what matters is staying true to who you are. And who doesn’t love to shake that booty and have some fun? They call agree there! But if KC Squared is looking for a third against Toxic Attraction, then count her in. Well alright then! Kayden & Katana now have Nikkita backing them up, will KC Squared plus one be greater than Toxic Attraction’s three?

 

BIG NEWS for next week!

With time running out, Shawn Michaels will reveal the Iron Survivor Challenge competitors! Who will be the five men and five women HBK deems worthy of this historic match debut?

 

NXT North American Championship: Wes Lee VS Carmelo Hayes!

The Must-See Kid is finally a singles champion, and he has his first defense against the man who was champion. But will Wes be one and done? Or can he prevent the rise of the three-time (three-time three-time) North American Champion?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see just who is THE A Champion!

The bell rings and the two stare down. Wes and Melo circle, fans rally and duel, and the two tie up. Melo and Wes go around, end up in a deadlock, so Melo ROCKS Wes with a right! Melo talks trash, but Wes says if that’s how he wants it, Wes TACKLES Melo! Wes throws hands, Melo scrambles out of the ring, but Wes slides out to ELBOW Melo into the announce desk! Melo staggers away, Wes rushes in but is sent into barriers! But then Wes drop toeholds Melo into the barriers! And LARIATS him into the gap! Melo staggers up and Wes throws him back into ringside! Melo flounders, Wes runs in and RAMS Melo into the apron!

Melo CLUBS away on Wes, puts him in the ring, and then he slides in. Wes stares Melo down and says, “It won’t be that easy. I’d rather die!” Melo stands Wes up but Wes ROCKS him back! Melo ROCKS Wes, then BOOTS him! Wes staggers to ropes, Melo runs in, but into a RANA! Melo staggers up, Wes shoots around him to get the headlock, but Melo fights up. Fans rally, Melo back suplexes but Wes lands on his feet. Wes waistlocks, Melo swings elbows but misses, and Wes lifts. Melo fights the suplex, trips Wes and turns him over, but Wes dodges the falling elbow! Melo sweeps the legs, rolls Wes to his feet, but Wes gets around to schoolboy! TWO, Melo cradles, TWO!

Wes avoids the sweep, Oklahoma Rolls, TWO! Both men hurry to stand up, Wes ducks but Melo springboard! Wes dodges again, handsprings, but Melo gets under! Both men BOOT and they’re both down! But it’s a double cover at the same time! TWO!! Fans fire up as both men avoid the loss and NXT goes picture in picture.

Fans rally as Wes and Melo stir. Melo sits up, shakes his head and talks more trash. Melo goes to the ropes and then the corner. Wes runs in but Melo moves! Melo comes back but Wes swats him! Wes boots but Melo blocks to put Wes in the ropes! ENZIGURI, and then the FADE AWAY! Wes is folded up from that impact! Melo drags Wes to a cover, TWO! Melo is frustrated but he drags Wes around to drop knees on the shoulder! Melo pulls on the arm, he slaps Wes around, and then focuses on bending the elbow! Wes endures, reaches out, but Melo slaps him down again. Melo pulls on the arm, but Wes powers up with is legs to get a roll-up! TWO!!

Melo escapes, and he CLOBBERS Wes! Melo hurries to cover, TWO!! Wes is still in this but Melo keeps on him. Melo goes after the bad arm and puts it in a cobra clutch! Wes endures, claws at the hold, and NXT returns to single picture. Fans duel as Wes reaches out. Melo shakes his head, but Wes pulls at the hold more. Melo HEADBUTTS the bad arm to keep it down! Wes still endures as Melo leans on the hold, and Wes reaches up. Wes stands up, but Melo KNEES low! Melo whips but Wes ducks ‘n’ dodges to come back, but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Melo springboards, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!

Melo argues with the ref but the ref says his count was fair. Melo goes back to Wes and he CLUBS him down! Fans duel hard as ever while Melo HAMMERS away on Wes! Wes crawls to ropes but Melo drags him up. Melo whips Wes to a corner hard and Wes falls back. Melo says that the title is going home where it belongs. Melo drags Wes up, whips him to the other corner hard, and Wes falls back again. Melo laughs as he looms over Wes, and then he dribbles his free throw. Did Melo make the shot? Fans chant, “AIR BALL!” Melo whips Wes but Wes slides to stop! Melo runs in but into a FLAPJACK into the buckles!

Fans fire up as Wes GERMAN SUPLEXES Melo away! Both men are down and fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Wes crawls his way over, Melo gets up, and Melo throws a haymaker! Wes gives it back, so Melo throws another! They go back and forth, faster and faster, harder and harder! Fans fire up as this is a hockey fight! Wes goes low, SOBATS, then fires off a strike fest! Snapmare and BIG basement dropkick! Melo goes to a corner, Wes goes to the other. Wes goes Around the World for a SUPER PUNCH! Wes whips Melo corner to corner as fans declare, “This is Awesome!” Melo bounces off buckles, Wes runs in and around him to UPPERCUT!

Wes waits on Melo to get up, to SUNSET DDT! Melo staggers to his feet, Wes SPIKE-RANAS him down! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives and Wes is fuming. Wes drags Melo to a drop zone, goes up the corner, and fans hope they “Fight Forever!” But this has to end somehow, and Wes takes aim. 450- NO, Melo moves and then cradles Wes! TWO!! Wes escapes, Melo tilt-o-whirl FACEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO!! Wes survives and shocks everyone, even Booker T on commentary! Fans rally up as both men slowly rise. Melo runs in but Wes BOOTS him! Melo CODE- NO, Wes holds ropes to stop the Code Breaker!

Wes spins Melo around, stands him up, and SUPERKICKS him back down! Wes runs, Melo ducks the double knees, to CODE BREAKER this time! Wes flops over and Melo goes to his favorite corner! THREE POINT- NO, Melo misses!! Wes METEORAS!! Cover, TWO!?!? Melo survives Wes’s best shot?! Fans are thunderous again and Wes moves, ROLLING KICK! Melo falls all the way out of the ring! Trick rushes out, unable to watch from the back any longer! Trick coaches Melo up but Wes builds speed. Wes FLIES to take out TRICK! Wes hurries after Melo, but Melo ROCKS him! Melo puts Wes in the ring then goes to a corner!

Melo climbs, he takes aim, but Wes SHORYUKENS! Wes drags Melo from the ropes, but Melo wrenches out to bump Wes off buckles. Melo runs in, but Wes sends him into buckles! ENZIGURI! And then a handspring PELE!! Melo wobbles, Wes drags him up to scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, Wes wins!!

Winner: Wes Lee, by pinfall (still NXT North American Champion)

Trick couldn’t help Melo get this one, and the phoenix that is Wes Lee is still burning bright with the gold! But wait, what’s this cage that’s opening? And then shutting? Because from behind, it’s DIJAK!! Dijak is back in NXT, he’s the one who’s been talking about “hard justice!” And he choke grips Wes, to lift him right into the torture rack! FEAST YOUR EYES!!! What has Wes done to be deemed guilty by Dijak? Or is Dijak just after the title?


My Thoughts:

This was a great NXT, and it helped build a lot towards NXT Deadline. For one, Toxic Attraction having it out with Kayden & Katana again, and then Lyons volunteering to be their third for next week all feels like a preview of the women’s title matches for Deadline. I don’t know if Lyons will take the title off Mandy, but the last NXT special of the year would be the time to do it. Mandy’s got 400 days, she’ll be at 410 come Deadline, she’s going to be second place all-time for a single reign, she can hang her hat on that and put over the next generation. The tag titles might be harder to call, but I wonder if Toxic Attraction falls apart because Gigi & Jacy admit KC Squared is right about Mandy holding them back.

At the same time, the feud of Lyons and Stark might keep Lyons from getting the belt. Toxic Attraction didn’t save Mandy from Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn did. And so Gigi & Jacy might not help Mandy, but Zoey might if it means keeping Lyons from winning the title per the classic Heel trope. At the same time, what if Zoey is in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge? Zoey could win that and be the next challenger, just in time for Lyons to be the new champion. Their feud can build towards New Year’s Evil 2023. And speaking of Isla and Fyre, Isla has a good promo to call out Fyre, they might even have a part to play in the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Another part of that match is probably going to be Indi Hartwell, and either Roxie or Lopez. Indi VS Roxie might be how to settle that story, and then Indi takes on Lopez, Fyre, Isla and Stark in the Iron Survivor. There are a ton of options on the men’s side, but I think we’ll be seeing Von Wagner and Odyssey Jones involved after the parking lot promo where Von beat up on Malik and Edris. And even if not, Odyssey and Von are going to have a great match as two big hosses who can move pretty quick in the ring. We might even see Gacy representing the Schism in that match. The Schism had a good promo, but I really liked how the fans knew what was coming with the “sacrifice.”

Kiana VS Ivy was a good match, and of course Fallon goes after Kiana in return for last week. They’re going to have a match and that will surely settle things with their story. The Creeds calling out Indus Sher was good stuff, and even Ivy continuing to insist they shouldn’t. Creeds VS Indus Sher could even be a #1 contenders match for the tag titles. I’m leaning towards Indus Sher winning, because they aren’t going to come back just to lose their first feud. And speaking of the tag titles, I really liked how things went here with Duke Hudson and Chase U. Waller and Pretty Deadly questioning Duke’s intentions was a nice detail, and Andre Chase does such great character work.

I figured Chase U wasn’t going to get the titles here, but that was a great match, and I think even Chase is wondering what’s up with Duke. Dempsey had a good promo, and I like that he emphasized the phrase “professional wrestling.” Obviously Dempsey will be a Heel right now, but he called out names on both Face and Heel sides, so I’d love if he was a Tweener who touted “pro-wrestling” in the “sports entertainment” company as like a weird parallel to AEW’s “pro-wrestlers VS sports entertainers” in the BCC VS JAS story. And I would love if Dempsey got in on the Iron Survivor Challenge, that’s the kind of match where stamina would come in handy.

Did anyone else have Reggie the acrobatic wine sommelier on their list of who SCRYPTS could be? Because I sure as hell didn’t. And sadly, it was a bit obvious looking at him that it was Reggie. This is like the wish.com version of Axiom. With Axiom, we could tell it was A-Kid because of the voice, but the mask covers him up so well that fans who never saw NXT UK wouldn’t have any idea. Here, pretty much everyone remembers Reggie from his time on RawDown with the 24/7 Championship, and that mask does nothing to disguise him. But hey, he is at least getting a story WWE is going to take seriously.

Speaking of seriously, Javi’s character may be taking this seriously but he is coming off as a goof for having such a long list of people to fight, and surely 90% of them will never happen. I do wonder what “retired not retired” legend they were alluding to at the end there. And then namedropping Drake Maverick, I kinda hope Rockstar Spud comes back (again) to whoop Big Body Javi. Good match from Cora and Wendy, and I should’ve figured Cora would cheat to win. Wendy crying after was a bit of a surprise. Tiffany pushed Wendy to bring out her dark side, I wonder if Cora pushes Wendy over the edge and we get another Lights Out match.

Good promos from Apollo and Bron, and I found it interesting they both brought up “the toll” this current reign has been taking on Bron. It’s kind of weird Apollo is pointing out he’s basically beating down a beat-up Bron Breakker, but perhaps the point is that timing is everything. I don’t know if Apollo wins, but just as Deadline would be a good time to dethrone Mandy, maybe this is the time someone dethrones Bron (again, but for good). And we got an awesome North American title match. Wes getting Trick to stay backstage for most of the match was good stuff, and I figured Wes would retain the title. But Dijak going after Wes, I wonder if Tony D is behind that… Dijak is going to be a great opponent for Wes to overcome and establish himself as a strong champion, and then maybe Tony takes his turn.

My Score: 8.6/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

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

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

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

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

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

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

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

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Nia Jax speaks.

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

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

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

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

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

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

on

We’re just one step away from the Cup!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

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

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

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

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

No Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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