Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (1/17/23)
We’re heading for vengeance!
2023 is only gearing up for NXT!
Bron Breakker is STILL NXT Champion after New Year’s Evil, but he isn’t done with Grayson Waller! Vengeance Day is coming, and so is a STEEL CAGE!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Axiom & Apollo Crews VS Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams; Axiom & Apollo win.
- Alba Fyre VS Sol Ruca; Sol wins.
- Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen w/ Fallon Henley VS Gallus; Gallus wins.
- Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Valentina Feroz; Thea wins.
- Tyler Bate VS Javier Bernal; Bate wins.
- Roxanne Perez & Lyra Valkyria VS Toxic Attraction; Roxie & Lyra win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Axiom & Apollo Crews VS Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams!
The Undeniable Truth and the man with foresight team up to take on two men who can’t help but run their mouths. Granted, Melo backs up a lot of his talk, but Trick has a lot of talk to back up. Will the Trick Melo Gang be able to pull this off when the numbers aren’t in their favor?
The teams sort out and Axiom starts against Trick. They circle, tie up, and Axiom waistlocks. Trick wrenches out but Axiom slips away. They go again, Axiom wrenches Trick’s arm, has the wristlock, but Trick slips through to wrench back. Trick cranks the wristlock, but Axiom rolls, handsprings and dropkicks! Fans cheer but Trick huffs and puffs. They tie up, Trick puts Axiom on the ropes, and he lets off as the ref counts. But Trick swings on Axiom! Axiom dodges the sucker punch, headlocks Trick, but Trick powers out. Trick runs Axiom over hard! Trick does a shoulder shimmy, then he drags Axiom up to run him over again!
Trick whips, but Axiom dodges, only to run into a pop-up HAYMAKER! Trick drags Axiom up, bumps him off buckles, and tags in Melo. Fans are torn as Trick Melo Gang double whip. Axiom reverses, kicks and CHOPS, then he knuckle locks Trick to go up, up and DOUBLE TAKEDOWN! Fans fire up as Axiom kips up and focuses on Melo. Axiom springboards to arm-drag and ENZIGURI! Axiom drags Melo over, tags in Apollo, and they wrench Melo’s arm to CLUB the shoulder. Apollo whips, Melo reverses but Apollo goes up and over. Apollo handsprings and drops and dropkicks Melo down! Fans fire up but Trick runs in, to get a dropkick!
Apollo sees Trick Melo Gang coming at him, and he DOUBLE OVERHEAD ARM-DRAGS! Apollo whips Melo, scoops but Melo slips free. Apollo hits a headlock takeover but Melo slips free to get the legs. Apollo kicks Melo away but Melo BOOTS him down! Melo keeps moving, tilt-o-whirl FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Melo as he brings Apollo up. Melo headlocks, Apollo powers out and Axiom tags in. Axiom ROCKS Melo, feeds to Apollo’s KNEE, then Axiom GERMAN SUPLEXES! Melo flounders out of the ring, Trick goes to check on him, but Apollo picks up Axiom to TOSS him! Direct hit and down goes Trick Melo Gang!
NXT goes picture in picture as fans fire up for Apollo & Axiom. Axiom fetches Melo and puts him in the ring. Axiom steps in but Melo dodges! Axiom comes back, takes Melo down and has a toehold. Melo keeps his shoulders up, Axiom drags him around to stomp him! Axiom brings Melo up at the ropes but Melo throws hands in return! Tag to Trick and they mug Axiom. Trick talks trash to Apollo then whips Axiom, for a LARIAT! Trick drags Axiom back up, scoops, and SLAMS Axiom down! Cover, TWO! Trick pushes Axiom to the corner, tags Melo, and they mug Axiom some more. Melo drags Axiom up to scoop, but a little too hard, he basically throws Axiom!
Melo talks trash on Axiom, but Axiom CHOPS him! Axiom drags Melo back to tag in Apollo. They double whip Melo, drop toehold and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Apollo facelocks Melo to keep him down and grind him into the mat. Melo endures, fights up, but Apollo shifts to a chinlock. Melo chinbars Apollo in return to turn things around onto him! But Apollo rolls and slips out to facelock right back! Apollo leans all his weight on the hold, but Melo rolls and gets a headlock. Apollo wrenches out and YANKS Melo’s arm, then tags Axiom. Axiom goes up to drop AX HANDLES on the arm! Axiom drags Melo around in a facelock, and he grinds Melo down.
Melo endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally as Melo suplexes, but Axiom cradle counters! TWO, and both men run, DOUBLE LARIATS wipe both men out! Fans fire up as Melo and Axiom both stir. Melo clamps onto Axiom with a waistlock, but Axiom switches. Apollo intercepts Trick, he and Axiom STEREO GERMAN SUPLEX! They hold on, fans rally for the GERMAN SUPLEXES! Melo and Trick hold hands to thwart the third round, and then they both standing switch. They STEREO BACK SUPLEX, but both Axiom and Apollo land on their feet! BOOT for Trick, Melo blocks Axiom’s to send it into Apollo!
Trick anchors Axiom, Melo hits the springboard LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Melo drags Axiom over, tags Trick, and they stomp Axiom down. Trick drags Axiom by his arm, bumps him off buckles, and then again, for a CHOP! Apollo coaches Axiom but Trick stomps away on Axiom! Trick drags Axiom up, tags Melo, and they mug Axiom again. Melo snapmares Axiom and clamps on a chinlock. Axiom endures, fans rally up, and Axiom fights up. Melo whips Axiom but Axiom uses that to SHOTGUN Trick! Axiom dodges Melo to hot tag Apollo! Apollo DECKS Trick, blocks Melo’s punch to mule kick and BOOT! And LARIAT!
Fans fire up and Apollo whips Melo to ropes, for the LEAPING LARIAT! Apollo kips up and fans fire up more! Apollo runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH! And then whip the other way, another STINGER SPLASH! And ENZIGURI! Melo staggers, and Apollo says he’s gonna raise it up. Apollo trophy lifts and DROPS Melo, to STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, Trick breaks it! But Axiom DECKS Trick! Trick slips out, but from the apron, GOLDEN RATIO! Melo goes to the top rope, he leaps at Apollo, but Apollo blocks the shot! Wheelbarrow, Melo tries to roll but Apollo sit son it! Apollo & Axiom win!!
Winners: Axiom & Apollo Crews, by pinfall
Melo is shocked! Not only did he miss, Apollo turned that turnover into points! But is this game between them far from over?
Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo walk the streets.
Stacks asks The Don why they’re here. Tony says it’s business. This bridge represents the beginning, and in some cases, the end. Tony drops in two dimes for the lost. Stacks says rats get what they deserve. Tony tells Stacks that he did a lot this past year. He proved he was a solid earner, and he’s taken bullet for Tony time and time again. That whole Dijak thing didn’t end how they wanted. Stacks apologizes and says he’d do anything for Tony. But if this is it, then Stacks is loyal until the end. Do what you gotta do. Stacks turns his back to The Done, and the Don… pats him on the shoulder. Stacks’ days as a soldier are over. Because now, it’s time to become the Underboss.
Wait, seriously? He means that? Yes, this is the family crest. Now that Stacks is a part of the family, he gets to wear it. Stacks thanks Tony and they hug it out. Tony says he’s proud of Stacks and gives him a kiss on the cheek. With Stacks moving up in the world, will the D’Angelo Family soon take over NXT?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
McKenzie Mitchell is with the returning superstar and notes that last week, Tiffany made her return by calling out the entire roster. Tiffany stops her there, and says she didn’t ask for this interview, McKenzie did. So just get to the point. McKenzie wanted to share some footage showing that Tiffany’s return wasn’t received very well. Footage plays showing that sometime last night, Tiffany walked up to her private locker room, but it was locked! She banged on the door, and Indi Hartwell opened the door.
Tiffany asked Indi what she’s doing in there, and Indi said, “Oh, you think you deserve a locker room bigger than the one for the rest of the division, right?” Tiffany said, “Duh.” Well uh, it isn’t your locker room. You wanna call the rest of the division “pigs,” then you can dress somewhere else. Tiffany got upset, and didn’t even realize Indi still went to NXT. Back to the present, Tiffany is sure McKenzie enjoyed that. “That footage is disturbing and alarming. And did you see the way Indi was dressed? She could fit her entire wardrobe in a garbage bag. Same goes for the entire locker room. I guess I’ll just have to show them that there is only one superstar in the Women’s Division, and that’s me.”
Tiffany storms off, but will she soon realize she is anything but the Center of the Universe?
Toxic Attraction heads to the ring!
After a close call in the Women’s Battle Royal, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne are BOTH contenders to the NXT Women’s Championship. Vengeance Day is going to see a Triple Threat, but that match can only be won by one woman. Gigi & Jacy both get mics and Jacy says they aren’t usually the ones to say “we told you so,” but… “WE TOLD YOU SO~!” They promised that the announcement would be, “Your winners,” and that is exactly what was said! Alicia, you did your job, kudos!
But the best part was watching all of the fans’ minds explode when it came down to the two of them! The fans mustered up every ounce of athleticism that they had just to get out of their chairs and elbows the people next to each other to say, “This is it! Toxic Attraction is done! They’re breaking up! History is unfolding right before our very eyes!” They were dueling between Jacy and Gigi, and for a hot sec, Jacy did try to eliminate Gigi. And vice-versa. But in the end, they’re a team! They think together, act together, and even fall to the floor at the same time together! There’s no animosity, jealousy or elephant in the room. Just Toxic Attraction doing what needs to be done.
And the revenge tour is in full effect! Full steam ahead to North Carolina! Vengeance Day, BABYYY~! And Roxanne Perez, they promise that you will regret the day you became champion. Because come February 4th, all Roxie will be hearing, “Your winners, and NEW~!” WAIT, here comes Lyra Valkyria! And all she is hearing are a couple of toxic crows demanding to be heard. IF it wasn’t for Cora Jade, Lyra would be flying to Vengeance Day while Gigi & Jacy would be at home, pinning the blame on each other. But it’s okay. Lyra will get her opportunity. She doesn’t see a champion when she looks at either of them!
Uh, sorry, Lyra, but where they hell did you come? You’re new, we get it. You dropped from the sky or whatever. But Gigi & Jacy have been champions for longer than Lyra’s even had her wings. Lyra will learn that Toxic Attraction runs things here in NXT. So nice try in wanting that Toxic Attraction rub, but back of the line ya go! Clearly, Lyra isn’t taking any of their shine. Lyra says all she sees are two women who know they can’t beat Roxanne by themselves, so they have to do it together. Well, they attack Lyra together! They stomp away, but here comes ROXIE! The champ runs off Gigi & Jacy!
Roxie helps Lyra stand up, Gigi & Jacy tell them to calm down. Roxie invites them back into the ring, but perhaps this showdown will have to wait for when Toxic Attraction wants it.
The Creed Brothers warm up backstage.
Brutus says it’s HIS turn with Jinder Mahal! Julius says he started this, he’s going to finish it. No, Julius had his chance! Brutus tells Ivy and Tatum that Julius is trying to take another turn when it’s Brutus’! Ivy says, “Here we go again.” And what’s she mean by that? Ivy is going to talk and they’re going to shut up and listen! What happened to them? What happened to The Creed Brothers who were motivated and disciplined? When they were locked in, they were the best tag team, with the titles to prove it. And now they’re after revenge, respect, retribution, whatever this is! But it’s far from where they need to be.
Indus Sher has global accolades, and Jinder is a former WWE World Champion. Ivy knew Julius was going to lose, and that the Creeds were gonna lose the tag match. Okay, so hypothetically, Ivy is right. She IS right!! Now grow a set and get back to being the Creeds, not whatever this is. Ivy storms off, and the brothers admit, she’s got a point. Will Diamond Mine be stronger than ever if they focus on gold?
Stevie Turner is live.
She says hey to chat and says she’s giving her reactions to last week’s Women’s Battle Royal. Cora Jade being out quick, she won’t get over that for some time. But what Stevie can’t get over is Kiana James saving Fallon Henley, and Elektra Lopez helping out Valentina Feroz. Forget alliances! This is every woman for herself! Sol’s Kofi-style save is definitely TikTok viral material, and Wendy Choo broke her fall with her own pillow. At least, until Lopez pulled the rug out from under her. Stevie loves the utter chaos, and no algorithm could put that draw together. But if Stevie had been in it, she would’ve won it. That day is approaching, so subscribe to the life of Stevie!
Alba Fyre VS Sol Ruca!
The match that Isla Dawn ruined is finally happening, though the Fire Keeper was a bit… aggressive in getting the Surfer Girl to agree to it. Will Fyre burn too hot for Sol? Or will Sol make sure not to wipe out in this big opportunity?
NXT returns and Sol makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Fyre puts Sol in the corner. Sol breaks away and the two reset. Fans rally, they tie up, and Fyre waistlocks to SLAM Sol down! Fyre goes to a ghost pin, TWO! Sol drop toeholds and floats to a facelock. Fans applaud, Fyre wrenches out and WRINGS the arm, but Sol handsprings through! Sol comes back, Fyre waistlocks, and Fyre shoves Sol to a corner. Sol goes up and over, runs corner to corner and goes up to CROSBODY! Cover, TWO! Sol facelocks, backslides, TWO! Fyre escapes but Sol deflects the superkick!
Fans cheer the standoff and the two shake hands. Sol and Fyre tie up, but Fyre drops to get the leg. Fyre trips Solo, Sol kicks Fyre away and kips up. Sol runs in, Fyre sidesteps and hip tosses but Sol handsprings through! Sol hits a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Sol keeps her cool, but Fyre is getting heated. Fyre throws body shots, she throws Sol down then stomps away! Fans rally for Sol while Fyre cools off. Fyre CLUBS Sol, drags her up, and suplexes to a GOURDBUSTER! Fyre PENALTY KICKS Sol, but Sol stays up, so Fyre KICKS her again! Fyre drags Sol up, Gory Especials, but Sol kicks to resist! Fyre turns Sol around to CHOP!
Fyre whips Sol to a corner, Sol reverses but Fyre goe sup. Sol catches Fyre, but Fyre slips free to SUPERKICK! Sol flounders to the corner and Fyre fires off forearms to the back! And stomps! The ref counts, Fyre backs off, but then Isla Dawn appears in the perch! She smiles at Fyre while Fyre scowls. Fyre goes back to Sol, but Sol goes up the corner, IMPLODING CUTTER!! Cover, Sol wins!!
Winner: Sol Ruca, by pinfall
Fyre got put out by the #SolSnatcher! Will Ruca be red hot after a win off the former NXT UK Women’s Champion?
Dijak speaks.
“Tony D’Angelo and his goon learned the hard way exactly what ‘street justice’ really means. Next up on the docket for me is Wes Lee.” Dijak isn’t back in NXT to make friends. He’s here to collect punitive damages. And beating Wes will fill Dijak’s bag with something he never had: championship gold. Dijak would offer Wes a plea bargain, but Wes is probably too stupid to take it. Wes has no chance of walking out of Charlotte, North Carolina with that title. “High justice awaits you. You have 18 days, Mr. Lee. Because for you it won’t be Vengeance Day, it’ll be judgment day!” Will Dijak give Wes and the world a feast for the eyes? Or will Wes be the one who is must-see?
Sit-down interview with Grayson Waller.
Vic Joseph notes people have been talking about the big match-up last week at New Year’s Evil, but what is on Waller’s mind? Waller says that was supposed to be the night he “saved” NXT. We’ve all seen Bron’s run. He’s beaten everyone. “But he couldn’t beat Grayson Waller.” Highlights show that Bron was everything Waller knew he’d be: fast, strong, athletic, and stupid. Waller had Bron’s ever move from “moment one to moment done.” Losing that match had nothing to do with Bron and everything to do with the one thing out of his control: the ring itself. The middle rope broke because Waller put Bron through it!
Then 20 idiots had to run out and fix the ring. If they’d done their job right, Walelr would be champion! But they messed up, so that messed Waller up. Vic fast-forwards to “the knee seen around the world.” That somersault adlib, Vic thought Waller really was going to win. Yeah, knee to forehead, bang, done, except credit where it’s due, Bron survived. But Waller always has a back-up plan, and that was his baller elbow. But then he falls out of the ring, he hears the count, loses via count-out. And to be honest, he doesn’t feel like a loser. Bron was half dead in the ring! Waller is as much a champion as Bron is! So much so, Waller has his own copy of the title.
Waller puts the belt on his shoulder. He looks pretty good, doesn’t he? Vic says next time Waller can win the title for real, is at Vengeance Day. It’s a rematch, but inside a STEEL CAGE! Waller says most people don’t wanna be stuck in a cage with Bron. Waller isn’t most people. There is nowhere he wants to be more than stuck in a cage with “that dog.” HBK says he wants a decisive winner? No problem, Shawn! Waller’s got you! He’ll make sure of it! It doesn’t matter if the cage breaks or the ring breaks, Waller makes sure to pin Bron! It could be inside on the mat, outside on the cement, he’s winning!
This is the most important event in NXT history! NXT is back on the road, starting with Charlotte, NC! And who better to drive than Waller? Think of all the superstars that have been in Charlotte. “WOO!” And not one of them can hold a candle to Waller! Waller takes Bron, takes the title, and takes Charlotte viral when he becomes the NEW NXT Champion. The 21st Century Success Story is ready, will the Grayson Waller Effect finally take effect on Vengeance Day?
Gallus speaks.
Mark Coffey & Wolfgang are headed to gorilla as Mark says, “We’ve been away, haven’t we, Wolfie?” “Aye, Mark.” “And we’re back now, aren’t we, Wolfie?” “Aye, Mark. And we’re about to remind Briggs & Jensen, and every other team out there, why it’s Gallus Boys On Top.”
Briggs & Jensen also speak.
The Country Boys and Fallon are also on their way, and Briggs says, “Ain’t no free ones with us, Gallus. You already know that.” Jensen says, “These country boys’re ’bout to raise some hell tonight. Both teams are ready, both teams are tough, but which team will truly be on top after tonight? That match is on, after the break.
Alba Fyre is after a ref backstage!
Other refs try and get her to stand down as she has her bat pressed into the neck of the ref who called her match against Sol Ruca! He apologizes, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance tell Fyre to stand down, and Fyre listens. The refs get their fellow ref out of there, and KC Squared explain to Fyre that this could get her fired! Fyre is furious and they ask what’s going on. She doesn’t know! She can’t win title matches, she can’t win against rookies, so she doesn’t know! Katana says Fyre should be patient. It took KC Squared a long time to get the Women’s Tag titles, but look at them now! They’re the longest reigning tag champs, and there’s not a team that can beat them.
So Fyre should just chill. Oh, is that right? Then maybe Fyre can set her eyes on them! Tag Team Champion, Alba Fyre, that sounds good to her. Well, not unless she can become two people or has split personalities. KC Squared saved her ass and she’s gonna come at them like this? Katana has Kayden cool off, and says that they’re ready to take on anyone, but Fyre doesn’t have a partner. Fyre doesn’t need anyone! Fyre storms off, is this all Isla Dawn’s doing?
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen w/ Fallon Henley VS Gallus!
Just as they were about to get in on the Pretty Deadly Gauntlet, the Country Boys were knocked down by Mark Coffey & Wolfgang, who were suspended until recently. Gallus sniped their spot in the match and may have sniped their shot at the tag titles, but will Briggs & Jensen turn things back around?
The teams sort out, but then a brawl breaks out! The bell rings, Briggs CLUBS Mark out of the ring and Jensen keeps after Wolfgang. Mark ROCKS Briggs in return, Wolfgang throws body shots, then he powers Jensen to the Gallus corner. Wolfgang throws hands, Mark tags in, and Wolfgang feeds Jensen to a LARIAT! Wolfgang throws down hands, stands Jensen up and ROCKS him! Jensen throws body shots, whips, but things speed up. Briggs tags in and he helps Jensen run Mark over! Then they double scoop SLAM! Briggs covers, TWO! Briggs clamps onto Mark with a facelock, he tags Jensen back in, and they double whip.
Mark reverses to send Jensen into a knee from Wolfgang! Mark ROCKS Briggs, ELBOWS Jensen, and tag to Wolfgang! Wolfgang drops an elbow, then rains down fists on Jensen. Wolfgang drops a knee on Jensen’s head, then another! Wolfgang drags Jensen up, headlocks, then clamps on a cobra clutch! Tag to Mark, Wolfgang ripcords Jensen for a shoulder, Mark CLUBS Jensen on the back! Mark KNEES Jensen down, then stalks him to ropes. Jensen throws an elbow but Mark KNEES low again. Jensen throws hands, fans rally up, but Mark ROCKS him with a forearm! Jensen leans on ropes, Mark tags in Wolfgang.
Gallus mugs Jensen, and Wolfgang whips Jensen, only for Jensen to hurdle! Jensen doesn’t get over Wolfgang cleanly, but he does make it to the ropes. Briggs tags in and runs in to fire off on Wolfgang! Briggs whips Wolfgang to a corner, runs in and clotheslines! Briggs keeps moving but has to swipe at Mark as he stands by the ropes. Briggs turns around and he BOOTS Wolfgang down! Fans fire up, Briggs brings Wolfgang up in a headlock, but Wolfgang powers out. Mark tags in, Wolfgang bypasses Briggs and Mark trips him up! Mark drags Briggs out to APRON BACK SUPLEX! Then he throws down hands!
Wolfgang BLASTS Jensen, Mark puts Briggs in. Fallon checks Jensen butt Mark mugs Briggs at the apron. Then Gallus pulls up the floor mats! Fans are freaking out but Jensen and Briggs brawl with Gallus! Jensen RAMS Wolfgang into barriers, but Mark goes to suplex! Briggs fights that off, to suplex Mark to the floor! Fans fire up for Briggs as NXT goes picture in picture.
Briggs leaves Mark behind to get in the ring. Briggs and Jensen regroup, see Gallus regrouping outside, and Briggs coordinates with Jensen. They both run, baseball slide, and then fire off haymakers on Gallus! They push Mark into the ring, but Wolfgang grabs at Briggs. Briggs kicks Wolfgang away, rushes in, but Mark gets around to waistlock. Briggs runs to ropes, bucks Mark, but comes back into an ENZIGURI! Mark BOOTS Briggs down, pushes him to the corner, and stomps him. Tag to Wolfgang, and Gallus mugs Briggs. Cover, TWO! Wolfgang clamps onto Briggs with a chinlock but Briggs fights up.
Wolfgang throws EuroUppers, then bumps Briggs off buckles. Tag to Mark and Gallus mugs Briggs in the corner. The ref counts, they let off, and Mark cravats. Briggs resists the snapmare but Mark knees low and CLUBS Briggs down. Mark throws hands but Briggs gives them back! Mark gets the edge, facelocks, and he grinds Briggs down. Briggs fights up, but Mark whips him away to CLOBBER him! Cover, TWO! Mark keeps on Briggs with a facelock and grinds him down again. Briggs endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally, Briggs fights his way over, and he BACK DROPS Mark away!
Hot tag to Jensen! Jensen rallies on Mark, BOOTS Wolfgang, then WHEEL KICKS Mark! Fans fire up with Jensen while Mark sputters. Jensen drags Mark up, suplexes, but the bad back stops him! Mark whips Jensen into the corner, kitchen sink knees, then tags Wolfgang. Wolfgang is up top for the DIVING SENTON! Cover, TWO!! Jensen survives but Wolfgang clamps on with a chinlock. Jensen endures as Wolfgang grinds him down. Wolfgang CLUBS Jensen, POSTS him, then tags Mark. Jensen flops to the floor, Mark drags him up and DECKS him! Mark pushes Jensen back into the ring, and he drops a knee! Cover, TWO!
Mark is annoyed but he stomps Jensen and kicks him around. Jensen throws hands but Mark knees him again. Mark drags Jensen up, pushes him to ropes and CLUBS him on the back! Jensen drops to his knees, Mark pushes him to a cover, TWO! Jensen goes to ropes but in the Gallus corner. Tag to Wolfgang and Wolfgang stomps Jensen down! Wolfgang digs his knee in, tags Mark, and Gallus stomps the legs. Mark facelocks to keep Jensen down, but Jensen fights up as the fans rally. Jensen powers Mark back, reaches out for Briggs, but Mark kicks Briggs’ hands! Mark CLUBS Jensen, runs in, but Jensen dodges! Hot tag to Briggs!
Briggs rallies on Gallus with big haymakers! Wolfgang runs in but is sent right out! Mark runs in but Briggs puts him on the apron! Briggs DECKS Mark, then goes to the apron for a FLYING SHOULDER! Direct hit and Mark goes down! Jensen fires off on Wolfgang, whips, but Wolfgang blocks! Wolfgang ROCKS Jensen, then feeds him to Mark! Back drop onto the bare concrete!! Jensen writhes in pain and fans lose their minds! Briggs BOOTS Wolfgang, ROCKS Mark, and he puts Mark in the ring. Briggs climbs, leaps, FLYING CLOTHESLINE! And then a scoop to a SIDEWALK SLAM and SPLASH!
Fans fire up with Briggs but he realizes what happened to Jensen. Fallon calls to medics and they hurry over. Briggs goes back to Mark, Mark cradles! TWO! DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Kiana James rushes out here and pushes Fallon aside to check on Jensen. Fallon tells Kiana to give him space but Kiana says she’s here to be for him. Jensen wants the medics just to get him up on his feet. Fans rally for Jensen, Briggs fires off with Mark! They go forearm for forearm, Briggs gets the edge, and he ROCKS Mark! And he ROCKS Wolfgang! But Mark POLISH HAMMERS! Tag to Wolfgang, and they set Briggs up for the ENZIGURI POWERSLAM!! Cover, Gallus wins!
Winners: Gallus, by pinfall
Mark & Wolfgang beat Pretty Deadly and they may have just broken Briggs & Jensen! Will Jensen be able to compete again after getting tossed like that? Will New Day be the next team on Gallus’ list?
Duke Hudson gets Thea Hail hyped up.
He says she’s going to get her first win in NXT! Is she ready? She’s ready! To throw up… That’s good, kinda. Okay, not the throwing up, but good that she’s nervous. That means she wants it! Andre Chase walks in and asks why he’s phone’s been blowin’ up. Thea says that means they’re getting the new Chase U swimming pool! Uh, no… Duke asks if this is about Thea’s match. Oh, Duke knows what this is about. Chase shows us the footage. Someone was spying on Duke talking with another Chase U student. Duke said Thea’s match is a must-win, because the win-loss record is not reflecting well on the school, on Duke or on anyone else.
Duke defends that he doesn’t know who was filming that. Chase doesn’t care who was filming it, he cares that Duke said that! If he has something to say, he should say it to their face! Duke says that conversation was taken completely out of context! But more importantly, tonight is about Thea! She’ll get her first win! Thea says yes, they should worry about that video later. She has her match now, so can we please go? Chase says okay, and they head out. Was the infamous “NXT_Anonymous” the one who was watching? And in the end, does Duke have a point? Is this match critical for not just Thea but ALL of Chase U?
The Country Boys are in NXT Medical.
The medic checks Jensen’s back, and it’s sore. Jensen says he’s fine, he just got the wind knocked out of him. Briggs wants Jensen to listen to the doc. But then Fallon storms in and asks Jensen why the hell she ran out there. Well, first of all, Kiana James has a name. And second, she was checking on him. Well she did more harm than good! He cannot be that blind. Jensen says Kiana was more concerned for him than Fallon was. Fallon says Kiana has him wrapped around her finger! She doesn’t like Jensen, she’s just USING Jensen!! HEY! What is she using him for? Fallon still has the bar, right? Jensen likes Kiana, Kiana likes Jensen, and Fallon just has to deal with that.
Fallon says she doesn’t have to “deal” with anything! And when Kiana breaks Jensen’s heart, Fallon won’t help him pick up the pieces. Fallon storms off, but is she right about Kiana? Or is Fallon’s own judgment blinded by something else?
Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Valentina Feroz!
Chase U’s top recruit has yet to get a win in NXT, and as the video shows, Duke Hudson put on the pressure by saying it is a must-win scenario. However, Thea’s up against a superstar who is also in dire need of winning a match all on her own. Something’s gotta give, who will avoid the worst case scenario?
The bell rings and fans rally for Thea as she circles with Feroz. They are both rather anxious, and Feroz rushes in. Thea avoids the takedown, they tie up, and they go around. Feroz headlocks, hits a takeover, but Thea powers free. Thea says “U!” and Feroz shouts, “C’MON!” They tie up again, Thea headlocks then wrenches to a wristlock. Feroz rolls, spins, and wrangles Thea down! Thea keeps her shoulders up, kips up and wrenches to a wristlock. Feroz fights it but Thea keeps on it. Feroz spins, trips Thea, but Thea BOOTS Feroz away! But Feroz sweeps and covers, ONE! Thea sweeps and covers, ONE!
Thea arm-drags Feroz, but Feroz SAYANAGIS Thea and SHOTGUNS her down! Cover, TWO! Feroz is frustrated, she clamps onto Thea’s arms and wraps her up. Thea kicks around, reaches out, but here comes Elektra Lopez! Lopez nods to Feroz while Thea fights up. Feroz whips, Thea gets around and goes for a crucifix, but Feroz stays up! Feroz moves Thea around, but Thea turns that to a sunset flip! Only for Feroz to sit on it! TWO!! Thea escapes and SLIDING KICKS, to a STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Feroz survives, Thea covers again, TWO! Fans rally as Thea tries another cover, TWO!
Thea grows frustrated but both Duke and Chase coach her. But Feroz drags Thea down to a cover, TWO! Feroz knees low, BOOTS Thea down, then whips Thea to ropes. Thea ducks ‘n’ dodges, but DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Fans fire up and Lopez approaches the apron. Lopez coaches Feroz, but Duke asks her why she’s here. Chase has Duke stand down to focus on Thea, but this also distracts the ref. Lopez slips Feroz the brass knuckles!! Feroz wonders what this is about, and then the ref sees those knuckles shining! Feroz takes them off and tells Lopez that she doesn’t need this! Feroz throws those away, goes up to Thea, but Thea wrenches!
Thea cravats, for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, THEA WINS!!
Winner: Thea Hail, by pinfall
Thea’s first win EVER, and it’s because Lopez tried to help Feroz! Lopez shakes her head, disappointed that Feroz didn’t do things her way. As for Chase U, winning supposedly fixes things, but has it gotten Chase to forget what Duke said?
Trick & Melo exit NXT Arena.
Melo says Apollo got his, but it’s cool. They’re even. Trick says that’s as even as they’re ever gonna be. But then Apollo walks over and says those visions didn’t turn out how they planned, huh? It sucks, right? You sit down, you put all your thoughts into words, put pen to paper, and it just doesn’t happen. That’s no fun. Okay, stop bragging about the tag match, acting like you beat Melo on your own. Get over it. Yeah, that’s cheap. Cheap? Aw c’mon, guys, you know a victory is never cheap when it comes to Trick & Melo. As a matter of fact, it calls for a celebration! That’s what Apollo will do! He’ll need a fresh cut. They know a good barber in town?
Melo & Trick can’t even as Apollo heads off. Mostly because Apollo ain’t got no hair. Will Apollo & Axiom return the favor that is the mockery?
BREAKING NEWS in regards to the wrestling community as a whole.
Sadly, one half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions, Jay Briscoe, has passed away. WWE and NXT want to give their condolences to Jay’s friends and family tonight.
Lopez finds Feroz in the locker room.
Lopez asks Feroz, “Why didn’t you take my help?” Feroz says she doesn’t cheat. Lopez sits with Feroz and says that “whether you play by the rules or you throw the rulebook away, you fight to win. You fight for respect.” Feroz says Lopez and Sanga clearly think the same. Well, yeah. So quit sulking over Sanga. Lopez has stood with men before, and she realized that to get what she wants, she had to stand on her own and do whatever it takes. She practices what she preaches, too, so watch her take on Wendy Choo next week. Lopez leaves and Feroz isn’t so sure about that, but will she soon see things La Madrina’s way?
The New Day is here!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods are dressed in nice suits as they head to the ring. They get the mics as the fans cheer them on, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Woods says, “Ladies and gentlemen! It’s ya bois, the NEW~ DAY~, and we look… GOOD!” Woods wants Kofi to explain why. Kofi asks if fans want to know why they look good, look dapper, and look sharp? It’s because today is a very special occasion. They are DONE with Pretty Deadly, BABYYY~! #YESBOY! But uh, if they’re not going up against Pretty Deadly at Vengeance Day, then who are they facing? Who who who? Kofi says they will go against the team that won the gauntlet match in this very ring!
Yes, that means The New Day is going against GALLUS~! They cross their arms to mock the Gallus pose, but then Pretty Deadly makes their way out here! Elton Prince says, “No no no no. Stop this absolute travesty!” Look at New Day, embarrassing themselves talking nonsense! Pretty Deadly hates nonsense! Kit Wilson says The New Day is making a mockery of them! Do they think this is funny? Fans chant ‘YES! YES!” Woods asks, “Do we think this is funny?” Fans say, “YES!” Well you heard the fans! Of course this is funny! It’s really funny considering Pretty Deadly LOST that gauntlet match! HAHAHAHA!
Woods says it’s funny especially because all they had to do before was get all the items on the wish list. If they’d just gotten Ahmed Johnson’s Legion of Doom shoulder pads, they wouldn’t be talking about this. Elton tells them to shut up! Shut your mouths! Kit adds on, and Pretty Deadly says they’ve been jumping through hoops for The New Day for a whole month, and it isn’t fair! Kofi realizes they missed an opportunity: they should’ve had Pretty Deadly literally jump through hoops! Kit says New Day isn’t getting it! Pretty Deadly is done with the games! This isn’t about Gallus, this is about Pretty Deadly, “the rightful #1 contenders to those NXT Tag Team titles.”
New Day knows it, Pretty Deadly knows it, and the fans know it! Fans boo, but then here comes Gallus! Mark & Wolfgang have mics, and Mark wants everyone to hold on. Did they hear that right? Did Pretty Deadly just claim to be the #1 contenders? No, Pretty Deadly, the New Day are gonna bang on, and Kit & Elton don’t deserve another chance at the titles after Gallus battered Pretty Deadly last week. Pretty Deadly says Gallus weren’t even supposed to be in the gauntlet! “In English, that is called a gross miscarriage of justice!” Gallus steps into the ring and Pretty Deadly backs off.
Mark says everyone’s chances of becoming NXT Tag Team Champions are done! Because Gallus is back! Nobody expected them, and after they put Pretty Deadly to bed, and now Briggs & Jensen, New Day is next. Fans boo, then chant “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Mark says Kofi & Woods like talking about records they hold. But here’s what Gallus is about: turning up, kicking off, and ruining everyone’s good time. Woods says, “Considering the fact that none of us understood a word you two just said… We can tell from the body language that you wanna fight. So we’re ready when you are.” But then Pretty Deadly CLOBBERS all four of them!
Fans fire up as the brawl is on! Woods and Kofi go after Elton, Kit has Wolfgang but then Mark storms over. Woods feeds Elton to Kofi’s BELLY BELT SHOT! Mark hits Kit with a HALF NELSON SLAM! New Day TOSSES Elton, Mark clotheslines Kit out! And then New Day and Gallus stare down. Officials rush out to stop Pretty Deadly from getting back in, and the brawl is now between Gallus and New Day! Fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” but more officials rush out to stop this! New Day wants to move on, Pretty Deadly want a rematch and Gallus just wants the gold, how will Vengeance Day’s NXT Tag Team title match shape out?
Backstage interview with Roxie and Lyra.
McKenzie says in tonight’s main event, they team up for the first time ever and take on Toxic Attraction. How do they feel they will “gel” in the match? Roxie knows she and Lyra have common enemies. Whether it’s Toxic Attraction this week or Cora Jade last week, they both know what it’s like to be the new girl. And everyone knows that since day one, Toxic Attraction has been trying to make Roxie’s life a living hell. She won’t let that happen to Lyra. Lyra says she normally flies solo, but tonight she makes an exception. Roxie was there for her, so tonight, Lyra is there in the main event for Roxie. Toxic Attraction thinks-
Wait, Javier Bernal walks in with a guitar? Javi says he was looking all over for McKenzie. She knows his match is next, right? Uh, he knows she’s in the middle of an interview, right? Oh, okay. But his match- Oh, wait, did McKenzie buy his Christmas album? He heard it hit the Top 40. Hey, champ, wanna hear a song? No, she really doesn’t. Okay. How about new girl? Feliz Javidad is flying up the charts. Get out! Sheesh, tough crowd. Big Body Javi moves on, but will he use that guitar to sing his own praises after tonight?
Sit down interview with Bron Breakker.
Just as Vic Joseph interviewed Grayson Waller, Vic now sits with the NXT Champion to talk about the rematch. What’s been going through Bron’s mind since New Year’s Evil? He just wants the bad taste out of his mouth. No one wanted that match to end that way, including him. Bron wanted a definitive winner. He wanted to stand over Waller after having speared him in half, knowing he proved he’s better than Waller, and it didn’t happen. He didn’t get that satisfaction. Vic knows that it was tough because he saw Bron’s face at the end of it. And he saw Bron’s face after the Knee Seen Around the World. Vic admits, he thought he’d have to say, “And new.”
Bron is sure everyone thought that. Credit where it is due, Bron was setting up for the spear, but Waller caught him off guard. It took Bron everything to kick out. Waller then goes to the ropes for his elbow but the ropes break. That is the big question, “What if?” If Waller hit the elbow, would we have seen a new champion? Who knows, Bron can’t answer that. But there’s doubt now in the people’s minds. They don’t think Bron should be champion. And that’s fine, because all the questions will be answered on Vengeance Day. Vic says that’s coming in two weeks, Bron VS Waller, inside a STEEL CAGE.
Bron says that sounds good. He couldn’t be more excited. The cage is like icing on the cake. He couldn’t think of a better scenario. There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The trash talk, the mind games, trying to get under Bron’s skin, it won’t work. It all runs through Vengeance Day. Bron won’t climb out, he’s going to win in the ring. Then not to ruffle any feathers, but Vic brings up Waller walking around with his own belt. Bron says Waller’s the best trash talker around. He talks trash but gets his ass kicked. He’d be a disgrace as the leader of the brand because he’s selfish. Waller’s here for himself, not for the brand.
Bron says that over his dead body will Waller be the champion. Waller won’t be talking trash being thrown up against the cage and left in the center of that ring. HBK and the fans want a definitive winner, Bron will give that to us. Waller will be down and Bron will leave Charlotte still NXT Champion. Will Bron make sure he breaks Waller once and for all?
Tyler Bate VS Javier Bernal!
The Big Strong Boy is back, but Big Body Javi is about to do his best Elias impersonation. “In celebration of Feliz Javidad hitting the top 40, how about I play you guys a little concert? Thank you, Orland!” Javi starts singing, but then Tyler’s music stops that! Fans fire up already, will Tyler prove that he’s back and better than ever?
The bell rings, Bate and Javi circle and the fans cheer on the Big Strong Boy. Bate offers a handshake, but then leaves Javi hanging. Bate then tickles Javi to the corner! The ref counts, Bate lets off, and he ties up with Javi. Bate waistlocks, baits Javi into going for his leg, and then leap frogs over to slide under. Bate baits Javi in again, rolls Javi up, TWO! Javi runs in but into a headlock. Jaiv pulls hair, the ref reprimands, but Javi headlocks. Bate endures, powers up, and powers out to leap, drop down and dropkick! Bate arm-drags Javi to a wristlock and grinds Javi down. Javi endures but Bate brings him up.
Bate clamps onto the arm, but Javi pulls hair to bring Bate into ropes! The ref backs Bate off, but Javi pokes Bate in the eye! Javi CLUBS Bate, whips him to a corner and runs to BULLDOG! Then SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Javi pushes Bate down to rain down fists! Javi grinds his forearm in, the fans boo, but Javi lets off. Javi drags Bate up and talks trash, then he throws down more hands. Fans rally for Bate and Bate counter punches! And again! And UPPERCUTS! Bate UPPERCUTS Javi again, whips him, but Javi reverses. Bate rebounds, but he slips out of the bulldog! Javi gets up but Bate rallies on him!
Bate kicks, headbutts, whips, and CLOBBERS Javi! Fans fire up as Javi flounders to ropes. Bate storms up to fire off more uppercuts. Bate whips, Javi reveres, and Javi runs in. Javi blocks Bate’s boot, but Bate brings Javi down to KNEE him away! Bate then goes up to FLYING UPPERCUT! Fans fire up more as Javi swings into an EXPLODER! Bate kips up and hits a STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Bate drags Javi up, reels him in and underhooks the arms, but Javi wrenches out to CODE- NO, Bate blocks that and throws Javi back. Bop up, BANG! Javi staggers, swings on Bate, but Bate dodges to Bop up, and BANG again!
Javi flounders around, Bate runs, COMEBACKER LARIAT! Underhooks, Javi fights off the lift, but Bate gets him back up, TYLER DRIVER 98!! Cover, Bate wins!
Winner: Tyler Bate, by pinfall
Javi may have topped the charts, but he just dropped off with this one. Tyler Bate is back and here to stay, will he get back to the top of the mountain in NXT?
Chase U celebrates Thea’s win!
Duke carries Thea on his shoulders while the other students march through waiving banners and chanting her name! Chase still looks a bit upset about earlier, but Briggs & Jensen are also a bit bummed. At least someone won tonight, right? Go Chase U. Briggs says he’s going to get going as Fallon walks in, but Fallon tells him to stay. What’s she want? Fallon apologizes to Jensen for what she said earlier, but she just wants what’s best for him. He knows she does. And Fallon knows Kiana means a lot to him, so she’ll try to make this work. She means that? Yes, and she even asked for a tag team match. Her partner is… Kiana James!
That’s great! Jensen thanks her, but Fallon says she’s only doing this for Jensen. Okay? Of course! Bar tonight, drinks on Briggs. Fallon knows a place. Briggs is fine with that, since they’re gonna have drinks. But will Fallon really be able to work well with Kiana?
BREAKING NEWS for Vengeance Day!
After the big brawl between the three teams, the NXT Tag Team Championship match is now a TRIPLE THREAT! The New Day will defend against Gallus AND Pretty Deadly! Will Kofi & Woods still be your W, W, E, N, X, T, Tag, Team, Champions~?! Will Gallus Boys truly be on top? Or will Kit & Elton be vindicated when they win those titles back?
Roxanne Perez & Lyra Valkyria VS Toxic Attraction!
Just as the Prodigy said, she and the Morrigan are taking on some common enemies in Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne. Will the NXT Women’s Champion be able to overcome her challengers while the numbers are even? Or will this end up a preview of how Toxic Attraction will take the title back on Vengeance Day?
The teams sort out and Roxie starts against Jacy. They rush in, Roxie gets around and fires off forearms! Fans fire up and Gigi runs in, but Lyra intercepts her with a knee! Roxie DECKS Jacy, Lyra DECKS Gigi, and Toxic bails out! Lyra & Roxie high-five, and then Roxie builds speed to DIVE onto Jacy! Fans fire up with Roxie, but Gigi gets up in her face. Only for Lyra to WRECK Gigi with a dropkick! Fans fire up as Lyra sits on the ropes and Roxie drags Jacy up. Roxie puts Jacy in, covers, ONE! Roxie keeps on Jacy with an armlock, then wrenches to YANK the arm. Roxie brings Jacy over, tags Lyra, and Lyra KICKS the arm.
Lyra knees low, throws more knees, then UPPERCUTS Jacy down! Lyra brings Jacy up, headlocks, but Jacy powers out. Roxie tags in, Lyra slips under to hold Jacy still, and Roxie wheelbarrows to victory roll, run and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Roxie grins as she has the arm again. Roxie steps over, La Magistrol, TWO! Roxie keeps Jacy down with a facelock, and she brings Jacy around. Roxie wrenches, tags Lyra, and Lyra goes up to DOUBLE STOMP the arms! Lyra drags Jacy up, wrenches, but Jacy pulls hair! Jacy knees low, tags Gigi, and Gigi runs in, but into a hip toss! Lyra covers, TWO! Lyra keeps Gigi down with a cravat.
Gigi fights up, but Roxie tags in. Lyra headbutts low, Roxie runs and CLOBBERS Gigi with that uppercut! Cover, TWO! Roxie waistlocks Gigi but Gigi runs. Jacy tags in., Roxie O’Conner Rolls but Jacy hits a NECKBREAKER! Jacy rains down fists on Roxie but fans boo as Jacy shrieks. Fans cheer on Roxie but Jacy tells them they all suck. Jacy CLUBS Roxie, whips her to the corner, then runs in to back body block! Jacy trips Roxie, tags Gigi, and Jacy gives Gigi a boost into the BRONCO BUSTER! Jacy adds on her CANNONBALL, then Gigi drags Roxie out to a jackknife bridge. TWO, and Gigi is annoyed as she drags Roxie from Lyra.
Gigi fires off Kawada Kicks but fans boo. Gigi drags Roxie over, tags Jacy in, and Gigi hits a KOKESHI HEADBUTT! Jacy adds on a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Jacy grows frustrated but Lyra coaches Roxie up. Fans rally, but Jacy pushes Roxie around. Jacy drags Roxie away, CLUBS her, then tags in Gigi. Jacy whips Roxie into Gigi’s BOOT, then Jacy LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Gigi drags Roxie away as fans duel, tag to Jacy. Jacy runs to BLAST Lyra off the apron! Jacy suplexes but Roxie slips free! Jacy ELBOWS Roxie, runs, but Roxie ducks and comes back, DOUBLE FACEBUSTERS take them both down!
Fans fire up as Roxie and Jacy both crawl, hot tags to Gigi and Lyra! Lyra rallies on Gigi with clotheslines! SOBAT! Front kick! HEADBUTT! AX KICK! Jacy runs in but Lyra dodges to ENZIGURI! Gigi runs back in, but into an EXPLODER! Lyra roars, fans fire up and she goes to the corner. Lyra climbs, but Jacy distracts the ref as CORA JADE rushes out! Cora shoves Lyra down! Fans boo as Cora again screws Lyra! Gigi tags Jacy, Jacy drags Lyra but Lyra BOOTS her away! Hot tag to Roxie! Roxie hits a THESZ PRESS and rains down fists on Jacy! Lyra DIVES onto Cora!! Fans fire up as Lyra throws hands on Cora!
Roxie runs in to UPPERCUT Jacy! Lyra chases Cora to the back as Roxie runs in to UPPERCUT Jacy again! Roxie wrenches, hooks Jacy up, but Gigi runs in to BOOT Roxie down! Tag to Gigi, Toxic Attraction sets up, but Roxie avoids Toxic Annihilation! The BOOT hits Gigi!! Jacy freaks out, fans are fired up, and Roxie smirks as she hooks Jacy up, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! SOBAT for Gigi, and then POP ROX!! Cover, Roxie & Lyra win!
Winners: Roxanne Perez & Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall
The common enemies tried to take them down, but the numbers didn’t work in their favor! Roxie found a way to win against Gigi & Jacy here tonight, will she be able to do the same thing on Vengeance Day?
My Thoughts:
A really good NXT, especially in terms of building the Vengeance Day card. Really good interview promos from Waller and Bron, and I like the detail that they both want to end this in the ring. Honestly, HBK should just make the stipulation that escape doesn’t count as a win, so that there isn’t even the possibility of Waller changing his mind and going for the door or something. Good promo from Tony & Stacks to both reference Two Dimes but also strengthen the bond of the team. If Stacks is now the Underboss, I hope that means they’re thinking of expanding and adding new members. Dijak also had a decent promo in calling out Wes Lee, but I still think Wes wins their match.
Good promo from Tiffany and Indi with Indi putting Tiffany in her place and setting up a match between them. Tiffany will surely win that since it’s her return match, and honestly, Indi should’ve been called up a little bit ago. Maybe Indi will be a Royal Rumble entrant, maybe she’ll show up closer to WrestleMania, who knows. With Gargano hurt and no real plans for Lumis right now, The Way can’t really reunite on Raw just yet so Indi can hang around NXT to help the newer superstars. Really good stuff from Diamond Mine, especially Ivy getting the Creeds to focus. I hope we still get Creeds VS Indus Sher, because that can at least serve towards sending one team towards the titles.
Stevie Turner the Twitch streamer is only into week two and it’s already failing to land right. She wasn’t reacting, she was recapping. She should’ve been laughing, making jokes, going “OMG!” like she had no idea what happened last week. Clearly HBK is trying to show he knows the kids today and the technology we use, but he didn’t give Stevie the right direction in this promo. But what he can do is get Stevie in action sooner rather than later and let her show the US audience what she can do. And we got a good promo out of Toxic Attraction to just barely touch on the dysfunction forming. It also set up the main event well with Lyra and Roxie showing up and brawling.
The main event was a great match, too, with no real dysfunction until the end. Cora interfering should’ve been obvious, and I thought it was going to cost Lyra & Roxie, but Lyra runs Cora off to further their building feud. Lyra is surely winning her match with Cora to better establish herself on NXT. And Roxie using Gigi & Jacy against each other was great, that is of course the plan she’ll use for the Triple Threat. It worked here, who knows if it works at Vengeance Day, but I would think it does. As great as Gigi & Jacy are both individually and together, Roxie just got the belt so she’s gotta make it to Stand & Deliver with the title.
Really good opening match with Axiom, Apollo and Trick Melo Gang. Things were a bit sloppy at the start, but Apollo and Axiom get a good win. Apollo kinda rubbing it in as Trick & Melo were leaving was a good touch. I think we’ll get a rematch of Apollo VS Melo for Vengeance Day, that can be the blow-off that then sends Melo towards the NXT Championship for Stand & Deliver, where I hope Melo will win that title. Really good match out of Fyre VS Sol, and what a great surprise that Fyre lost. Sol’s finisher isn’t the most practical, but it is unique a least. Fyre going after the ref was a nice touch, and I bet Isla Dawn ends up Fyre’s tag team partner, even if she claims she doesn’t need one. As great as KC Squared are, Fyre & Dawn taking the titles would be pretty cool.
Good match for Bate’s return, but Javi might’ve been legitimately dazed from something. He should’ve been able to jump for that Tyler Driver but he ends up getting folded up more than he should have. Tyler can definitely build his own momentum towards a title while giving us great matches along the way. And it seems NXT Anonymous strikes again, this time exposing Duke Hudson. I agree with Duke, Chase U needs to start getting wins, and we got great story blending where Thea gets a win over Feroz to finally get that goose egg off her record. And it helps Feroz and Lopez move their story along. I think they’ll feud first, then become a team.
And speaking of, Fallon and Kiana will surely be a dysfunctional tag team that somehow wins. They’ll be tense the entire time, Jensen will end up in the middle, as will Briggs. With teams like Feroz & Lopez, Fallon & Kiana and Fyre & Dawn forming, it feels like HBK is making sure NXT is strong in all divisions. This will help so that there will be strong call-ups for all the divisions on RawDown. KC Squared should definitely show up on SmackDown post-WrestleMania so they can be contenders on that brand for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Great tag match out of Gallus VS Briggs & Jensen, great win for Gallus, and then great promo from Gallus, New Day and Pretty Deadly to give us a brawl and the Triple Threat tag title match. That situation gives New Day a way to lose without being hurt, and I would love to see Gallus win that so they can join Pretty Deadly in the NXT & NXT UK Tag Champs Club. But where’s Joe Coffey? Maybe Joe is waiting to pounce on the North American title scene.
My Score: 8.4/10
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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 New Day VS The Alpha Academy; wins and advance to WrestleMania.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; win(s) and advance to WrestleMania.
- Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; 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?
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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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