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Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/23/23)

Round 9, part 1, FIGHT!

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BOSJ 30

A Block gets the top of the ninth!

Best of the Super Juniors enters the ninth, and A Block gets today all to themselves! Who will be A Block’s top two going through to the semifinals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • TJP & Great-O-Khan VS Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima; TJP & Khan win.
  • El Desperado & Ryohei Oiwa VS Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita; Desperado & Oiwa win.
  • Francesco Akira & Dan Moloney VS Clark Connors & Gedo; Akira & Moloney win.
  • Six Man Tag: Kevin Knight, Master Wato & YOH VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi & Taka Michinoku; Knight, Wato & Yoh win.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: KUSHIDA VS Ryusuke Taguchi; Taguchi wins.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: DOUKI VS SHO; Sho wins.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: Lio Rush VS Mike Bailey; Bailey wins.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Titán; Titan wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings.

Mike Bailey: 6-2, 12 points
Lio Rush: 6-2, 12 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 6-2, 12 points
Titán: 5-3, 10 points
Taiji Ishimori: 5-3, 10 points [INJURED]
TJP: 4-4, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
DOUKI: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
SHO: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
KUSHIDA: 2-6, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 0-8, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

 

Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: KUSHIDA VS Ryusuke Taguchi!

This match may not matter to the standings and who heads for the semifinals, but dammit, the Timesplitter and Funky Weapon have pride on the line! Will Taguchi finally score at the last possible moment? Or will he be the very bottom of the block?

Kushida offers a handshake and fans cheer as Taguchi takes it. The bell rings and the two tie up. They go around, Kushida powers Taguchi to ropes but Taguchi turns it around. The ref counts the break, Taguchi lets off and fans cheer. Kushida hurries after a leg, trips Taguchi and floats to a cover but Taguchi keeps a shoulder up. Kushida floats to a headlock, Taguchi rolls it to a cover, ONE! Kushida holds on, goes after an arm, but Taguchi goes to headscissors. Kushida fights those off to float and wrench the arm. Taguchi gets a leg, Kushida hops around, and Kushida slips free. Fans applaud as the two reset.

Taguchi and Kushida feel things out, knuckle lock, and then Kushida spins and wrenches to trip Taguchi again. Taguchi fights off the cover but Kushida shifts to go after an arm. Taguchi moves around, he ties up the legs, and Taguchi pulls back on the deathlock. Kushida reaches back, floats to a headlock and takeover, but Taguchi headscissors. Kushida kips free, Taguchi turns things around with a headlock takeover of his own. Kushida headscissors but Taguchi kips free, and the fans cheer the new standoff. Kushida and Taguchi reset again as fans rally up. They tie up, and Taguchi headlocks.

Kushida powers out but Taguchi RAMS him. They stay up, so Taguchi goes again. Kushida goes the other way, they crisscross as they run the ropes, and then Kushida drops. Taguchi hops over and comes back, they RAM shoulders. They both run, both drop, and then both dropkick! Fans fire up as both men stand. Taguchi and Kushida reset again and circle. They feel things out, Kushida drop toeholds then wrenches an arm. Kushida grinds the elbow, Taguchi rolls but Kushida CLUBS the arm! Kushida CHOPS then whips, but Taguchi holds ropes. Kushida runs in but Taguchi puts him on the apron.

Taguchi rams Kushida, then triangle jump DROPKICKS! Fans fire up and Taguchi builds speed! But Kushida avoids the sliding dropkick. Taguchi pursues as Kushida goes around the way. They both jog around, fans rally up as they keep going, and then Kushida slides in. Taguchi follows, avoids the Penalty Kick, and then drags Kushida out for OH MY GAH ANKLE! The ref reprimands, Kushida holds ropes and kicks at Taguchi. Kushida then stands, and Taguchi stops in frustration. Fans rally, Taguchi gets up and shoulders in, but into a HOVERBOARD! The ref counts, Kushida lets off at 4, and then PENALTY KICKS the arm!

Taguchi writhes out to the apron but Kushida drags him back in. Kushida wrenches the arm, for an ELBOW BREAKER! Kushida drags Taguchi around, ties up the arms and traps them in that crisscross, to then SNAP LOCK them! Taguchi endures, Kushida gets his legs, HOG TIE CRADLE! TWO!! Kushida SNAP LOCKS the arms again! Taguchi writhes, Kushida paces, and then Kushida brings Taguchi up. Kushida snapmares to scrape his soles off Taguchi’s face! Kushida cartwheels to basement dropkick! Fans fire up while Kushida covers, TWO! Kushida brings Taguchi up and has the straitjacket stretch!

Taguchi endures and fans rally up with chants of “TA-GU-CHI!” Taguchi fights up, turns the jacket onto Kushida, but Kushida turns it right back onto Taguchi! Fans continue to rally, Taguchi fights up, and Taguchi swivels and wiggles the jacket down! Taguchi steps over to put it on Kushida! But Kushida arm-drags free! Kushida runs in but into a BOOT! Taguchi runs, but into a knee! Kushida runs, but into the SOMERSAULT HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up as Kushida flops to ropes. Taguchi runs to HIP ATTACK Kushida against ropes, then goes side to side for another HIP ATTACK! And then a basement dropkick!

Kushida falls out of the ring, Taguchi triangle jump PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Kushida! Fans fire up while both men are down. The ref checks, Kushida stirs and Taguchi shakes out his arms. Taguchi brings Kushida up and into the ring, and then aims from the apron. Kushida stands, Taguchi springboards, MISSILE- ARMBAR!! Kushida catches Taguchi into the armbar!! Fans fire up, Taguchi fights the hold, rolls and turns Kushida over, to LA MA- NO, Kushida rolls Taguchi up! TWO, Kushida steps through, LA MA- NO, Taguchi blocks to a cover, TWO!! Taguchi and Kushida get right up to DOUBLE LARIATS!

Fans fire up, both men get up again, and DOUBLE LARIAT again! And they’re up again! Another DOUBLE LARIAT! They want a fourth, but they both fall down first! Fans fire up again and Kushida rises. Taguchi shakes his arms, both men sit up, and they crawl for each other. Taguchi throws a forearm, but Kushida gives it back. Taguchi throws a flurry but Kushida KICKS the arm! Kushida whips, Taguchi reverses, Kushida handsprings to BACK ELBOW! Fans fire up and Kushida says it’s time! Taguchi rises, Kushida runs in, HOVERBOARD!! Taguchi stays on his feet but Kushida’s got the body scissors!

Taguchi steps, reaches, but Kushida switches sides! Taguchi tries the other way, Kushida double underhooks! But Taguchi fights out and ROCKS Kushida with a forearm! But Kushida DROPKICKS the arm! Fans fire up, Kushida runs, but into a mule kick! But Kushida PELES! Taguchi ENZIGURIS Kushida! But Kushida winds up, only for Taguchi to “homer” the fastball! And then he BODY BLOWS back! Taguchi reels Kushida in, chicken wings, DODON BUSTER!! No throne?! Fans fire up and Taguchi crawls to the cover, TWO!! Kushida survives, but OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Taguchi has the ankle!

Kushida endures, fans are thunderous, and Taguchi’s butt is partially exposed!? When did that happen!? Kushida crawls, rolls, but Taguchi holds on! Then drops an elbow on the leg! The rope censors the shot but Taguchi goes booty up to lean as much as he can onto the hold! KUSHIDA TAPS!! TAGUCHI WINS!!!

Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by submission (gains 2 points; Kushida earns 0)

Incredible! At the last possible moment, Taguchi finally gets a win in this year’s BOSJ! Though, was that only because he returned to his Strange Style? As for Kushida, he has an uncharacteristically 2-7 finish! Will he be able to keep up in the Junior Heavyweight singles division like this?

 

Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: DOUKI VS SHO!

Another match that won’t affect the standings, but will establish a personal best! Will Japones Del Mal get to eight points? Or will the House of Torture stack the deck again?

Sho rushes back up the ramp as Doukie makes his entrance? Sho goes after him behind the curtain! And he drags… Wait, that’s not Douki, that’s Ryohei Oiwa with a Douki mask! Sho used a very Douki-pipe looking pipe to choke Oiwa, but then Sho makes the formal introductions and rings the bell himself! Sho stomps Oiwa, the ref wants him to stop because this isn’t Douki! SNAKE BITE!! Sho chokes Oiwa out, but here comes the REAL Douki! He is covered in tape just like Hiromu was a few days ago! Douki stomps away on Sho and tells Sho this is what he gets for messing around! Douki then drags Sho up as the bell officially rings!

Douki CHOKES Sho against ropes, lets off as the ref counts, and whips. Sho reverses but Douki RANAS back! Fans fire up, Douki runs in to clothesline in the corner! Douki keeps moving and he FLYING HEADBUTTS! Fans fire up with Douki while Sho bails out. Douki builds speed but Sho uses Kosei Fujita as a shield! Douki slides out, Sho slides in, and Sho comes back, but into a shoulder! Douki aims but Sho uses the ref as a shield! Douki stops the slingshot, and Sho dropkicks the legs out! Sho goes out after Douki, CHOKES him, but the ref reprimands. Sho drags Douki up, brings him around the way, and to the back part of the arena.

Sho throws Douki into the wall! And then Sho brings Douki along the backside of the bleachers, and all the way to the other corner, to CLUB Douki, and bring him into a backstage area! Douki fights back, Sho claws his eyes! Sho throws Douki in a trash bin! The ref reprimands but Sho leaves Douki in the dumpster to go back to ringside. The ref and a Young Lion help Douki out of the trash. Sho grins as he slides in the ring, and he says Douki really is trash! Fans boo and the ref reprimands, but the ring count still starts. Douki’s so far away, though! Douki crawls at 5 of 20, stands at 10, and Sho starts celebrating already.

Douki is back down the aisle at 14, reaches ringside at 16 and slides in at 17! Fans cheer but Sho stands on Douki’s hand! Sho bends the fingers! The ref reprimands and count, and Sho stops at 4. Sho then stomps Douki down, stands on his face, and makes it a cover. TWO as Douki still has fight in him! Sho taunts Douki, and Douki throws forearms! Sho rakes the eyes! The ref reprimands, but Sho wrenches an arm, brings Douki down, and kicks, KICKS and SUPER- NO, Douki blocks! But Sho rakes eyes! The ref counts, Sho whips Douki to a corner. Sho runs in but Douki BOOTS him! Douki goes up and FLYING HEADBUTTS!

Fans fire up and Sho crawls to a corner. Fans rally, Douki runs in, and he clotheslines! Douki keeps running, springboards and back elbows! Fans fire up more and Douki runs, DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Douki keeps cool and he drags Sho back up. Douki hooks the arms, Gory Especial, but Sho fights that off and bends fingers! Then Sho spins Douki, but Douki fights the lift. Douki runs, Sho brings him in, but Douki breaks free to ENZIGURI! Fans fire up again and Douki runs, but Sho uses the ref as a shield again! Douki pushes the ref aside but Sho blocks the kick! And rakes the eyes!

Sho then pretends Douki gave him a low blow! Douki defends his innocence, but Sho KNEES Douki into the ref! Fans boo as Douki and the ref are down, and Sho gets his ‘”torture tool!” Sho aims at Douki, but Douki has his pipe!! Fans fire up and cheer on Douki as he winds up! Sho says fine, swings, but Douki dodges! Douki swings, Sho dodges, but then Douki blocks the wrench attack! Sho’s hands hurt and he drops the wrench, then Douki JAMS Sho with the pipe! Fans fire up, Douki puts Sho in a drop zone and he climbs up top. Fans rally, Douki DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! But into the ITALIAN STRETCH #32!

Fans fire up as Douki pulls on Sho’s arms! Sho fights over, reaches out, but Douki drags him away, ITALIAN STRETCH!! Fans fire up as Sho starts fading! But EVIL is here! Evil claims he wants to throw in the towel, but the ref doesn’t trust that. Douki lets Sho go to shout at Evil. Evil says okay, okay, he’ll leave. But Sho is untying a buckle pad! A remix on the Bullet Club Special, and Douki runs in to hit bare buckles! Sho clotheslines Douki in, then tucks the arms! STRAITJACKET PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Douki survives and fans fire up! Sho is furious but then he aims his bow. Sho drags Douki up and reels him in.

Sho tucks the arms and brings Douki up again, but Douki slips free to trip and jackknife stack! TWO!! Sho escapes, runs, but Douki BOOTS him! Douki goes to the apron, HELL STABS, and even mule kicks Evil! DAYBREAK!! Fans are thunderous for Douki and he powers up! Douki wheelbarrows Sho in for SUPLEX DE LA LUNA!! Bridging cover, but YUJIRO TAKAHASHI drags the ref out! Evil fakes the count, and he makes Douki think he’s won! Douki turns arounds to see Evil! Fans boo and tell Evil & Yujiro to go home. Douki rushes in but into EVERYTHING- NO, Douki slips around to waistlock!

But Yujiro CLUBS Douki! Douki ROCKS Yujiro! And ROCKS Evil! But Yujiro LOW BLOWS Douki! EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Fans boo as Evil drags Sho over to the cover. The Tokyo Pimp fetches the ref, he counts, Sho wins!

Winner: Sho, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Douki earns 0)

Sho wins but he needed even more members of the House to do it! Is this how Evil & Yujiro are going to get the IWGP Heavyweight & NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships?

 

Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: Lio Rush VS Mike Bailey!

The Bad Child and Speedball both stand at 6-2 and 12 points. No matter what, the winner here moves on to the semifinals! Will Lio make this Mike’s Final Hour? Or is there no stopping Mike’s momentum?

The bell rings and fans rally up. Lio and Mike circle, then approach. Mike offers a handshake, Lio takes it, and fans cheer the sportsmanship. Mike and Lio talk a bit, perhaps about respect but each still being the one to win. The two take fighting stances, then things speed up! Mike follows Lio to drop but Lio hops over. Lio avoids the boot, redirects before the chop and then again before another boot! Mike keeps pursuing, triangle jumps but Lio avoids the kick! Mike dodges Lio now, handsprings over, and then hurdles! Lio leaps over and Mike kips up to arm-drag! Lio bails out, Mike goes up and out, and the two stand off on the apron!

Fans fire up and the ref wants this in the ring. Mike and Lio strike stances again! Mike blocks, Lio blocks, Lio ducks the kicks, then shoves Mike back. Lio runs to swing around the post?! Mike pursues as best he can, they get in the ring, but then Lio slides out! Mike follows, they go around the outside, Lio makes Mike think he’s going back in, then goes back up as Mike hops down! Lio mule kicks Mike and then ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit and fans fire up for “LIO! LIO!” Lio has them get louder, then he drags Mike into the ring. Mike scrambles to the far side, Lio runs in, and he blocks a kick to SLAP Mike!

Lio eggs Mike on, so Mike comes back. Mike blocks a kick, flips Lio, and Lio bobs ‘n’ weaves to avoid strikes! Lio whips, Mike reverses, Lio reverses back but so does Mike! Lio goes up the ropes to springboard and arm-drags Mike away! Mike comes back and KICKS Lio down! Fans fire up and Mike goes to a corner. Lio rises, Mike storms up on him and wrenches an arm. Mike UPPERCUTS the arm, CLUBS the arm, wrenches the arm, and KICKS Lio back down! Fans fire up again and Mike covers, TWO! DOUBLE KNEE DROP! Fans continue to fire up, Lio goes to a corner, and Mike CHOPS him!

Mike whips corner to corner, Lio slides to a stop, but Mike blocks his boot to CHOP him again! Fans stay fired up and Mike whips corner to corner. Lio reverses, Mike stops himself, but Lio goes Matrix to duck a kick! Lio comes back into a SOBAT! AX KICK! And ROUNDHOUSE! Fans are still fired up, and Mike SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO! Lio is still in this and fans continue to rally. Mike keeps his focus as Lio goes to ropes. Lio stands, Mike KICKS his leg out! Mike stalks Lio, KICKS his leg again, then waits on Lio to sit up. Lio ducks the buzzsaw, and the other buzzsaw, but the lightning kicks and ENZIGURI hit!

Fans fire up and Lio sits back up. Mike aims, but Lio blocks the buzzsaw to fisherman, SPINNING BUSTER! Mike bails out, Lio builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and the Young Lions keep fans safe! Lio gets going again, to DIVE again! Another direct hit! Fans fire up and Lio goes back in. Lio builds speed but Mike gets up, so Lio HANDSPRING KICKS him! Lio keeps moving, builds more speed, and DIVES!! Direct hit for a hat trick! Lio drags Mike up, puts him in, and fans rally up. Lio climbs a corner, but Mike rises up! Mike climbs but Lio throws hands! Mike staggers away, but he comes back!

Lio gets away to another corner! Mike rushes over, but Lio goes back to the first corner. Mike rushes over again but Lio hops down to yank Mike down! Lio then jumps in, but Mike avoids the lariat! Mike goes to the apron, ROUNDHOUSES Lio down, and Lio flops to the floor! Fans rally up, Mike goes up the corner, DOUBLE JUMP TORNILLO! Direct hit and fans fire up again! Fans rally for “BAILEY! BAILEY!” now and a ring count starts. Mike rises at 5 of 20, drags Lio up at 10 and puts him in at 11. Fans cheer, Mike stalks Lio, and Mike brings Lio up. Mike suplexes, puts Lio on the ropes, and KICKS him!

Fans fire up as Mike KICKS Lio more! Mike then goes to the corner, climbs, and GUILLOTINE KNEE DROPS!! Fans are thunderous while Lio crashes down! Mike brings Lio up, puts him on the top rope, and tucks him in! FLAMINGO- NO, Lio sunset flips it! TWO!! Mike pushes Lio through, steps over, ARMBAR!! Lio endures, clasps hands, but Mike clubs away! Lio fights around, stacks Mike, TWO! Mike stands to MOONSAULT KNEE DROP!! And back to the ARMBAR!! Lio flails, reaches out, and scrambles over to the ROPEBREAK! Mike lets go quickly but Lio clutches his shoulder.

Fans rally, Mike waits on Lio to rise, and he KICKS Lio right back down! Fans continue to rally and Mike waits on Lio. Lio stands, staggers around, and Mike KICKS him back down! Fans fire up more as Mike waits on Lio again. Lio rises, Mike KICKS him down again! But Lio roars as he sits up! But Mike KICKS him, and MOONSAULT KNEE- NO, Lio dodges! Mike clutches his knees and fans rally up. Lio throws forearms on Mike, but Mike hits back! Lio throws another, and they go forehead to forehead. Mike throws forearm after forearm, and fans rally up. Lio jumps up! But Mike ducks the heel kick!

Mike SOBATS! AX KICKS! But Lio LARIATS!! Fans are thunderous again as Lio goes to a corner. Lio tunes up a la Yoh, but Mike blocks the kick with a kick! Mike BOOTS, HEEL KICKS, but Lio HEEL KICKS back! Both men are down and the fans stay fired up! Lio goes back to a corner, waits on Mike to rise, and Mike goes to the far corner. Lio runs in, but into a BOOT! THRUST KICK! Lio staggers, Mike takes aim now, TATSUMAKI- SPEAR!! Lio shouts out The All Mighty but it was double-edged given his bad shoulder. Mike bails out, fans rally, and Lio goes out, too. They stare down from across the ring, and go around the side.

Fans fire up as the two run in! Lio ducks the Rider Kick! Mike comes back, but into a SPANISH FLY to the floor! Lio puts Mike in, hurries up the corner, and he drags Mike up to join him. Lio positions himself to have Mike up, for a SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Mike survives and fans are thunderous again! Lio and Mike stir, and Lio kips up! Lio goes to a corner, tunes up fast, and Mike rises into the SUPERKICK!! Lio hurries back to the corner, goes up top again, for the FINAL HOUR into a boot! Mike drags Lio into a cradle, TWO!! Lio escapes but Mike goes to a corner! Lio runs in, blocks a boot but not the ENZIGURI!

Mike goes up, ULTIMA- NO, Lio moves! More damage to knees! Lio steps over but Mike rolls him up! TWO!! BASEMENT ENZIGURI! Lio runs, springboards, RUSH HOUR!! Lio hurries up top while Mike is down! Fans are thunderous for the FINAL HOUR, but he FLOPS as Mike moves!! Mike goes forehead to forehead with Lio, they stand up, and they both fire up! Lio avoids one spin but the TATSUMAKI SENPUKKU still hits!! Mike then puts Lio up, tucks and lifts! Lio fights with fists, but Mike still hits the FLAMINGO DRIVER!!! Cover, Mike wins!!

Winner: Mike Bailey, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Lio earns 0)

The Speedball makes it through, this is NOT his Final Hour! Who joins him in representing the A Block? We find out in the main event!

 

Best of the Super Juniors 30, A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Titán!

For just a moment in this tournament, it looked as if the Ticking Timebomb wasn’t going to make the cut. But just as expected from the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, he’s fought his way back up! But just as with Lio VS Mike, the winner will be the one moving on! Will Hiromu keep his four-peat dream alive? Or will El Inmortal never say die?

Because this is an LIJ VS LIJ match, Tetsuya Naito appears! He lets Red Shoes check him before he joins commentary. Hiromu’s picture diary entry for Titan is something about being the new kid in LIJ. Hiromu is surprised to see Naito, though. As such, he presents Naito the diary! And then Naito drops it! Hiromu asks what the heck. Naito picks it up and apologizes. Titan looks at the entry now, is he surprised by it? Titan offers the LIJ fist bump, Hiromu accepts it, and fans applaud. The bell rings and fans rally up for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” as they circle. The two tie up, break, then tie up again.

Hiromu waistlocks, Titan spins through to facelock, but Hiromu wrenches out. Titan spins, headlocks, but Hiromu powers him down to a headlock on the mat. Titan rolls, slips free, wristlocks, and then brings Hiromu up to wrench. Hiromu spins through, loops and kicks low. Hiromu whips, Titan reverses, but Hiromu denies the tornado DDT! Hiromu rushes in but Titan sweeps the legs! Cover, ONE! Hiromu sweeps, covers, ONE! Titan kips up and fans fire up! Hiromu and Titan reset and fans rally. The two circle, Hiromu offers a handshake, so Titan takes it. Then Hiromu CHOPS! Titan CHOPS back!

Hiromu CHOPS, Titan CHOPS, and they go back and forth! Titan SOBATS! Titan wrenches and whips, Hiromu reverses but Titan goes up and over and rolls back! Titan blocks a chop, knuckle locks and CHOPS, then he goes up the ropes, tightrope walks, jumps and FLYING RANAS! Fans fire up, Titan gets moving, but Hiromu puts him on the apron. Titan GAMANGIRIS, but Hiromu shoulders in! Hiromu runs, but Titan catches him with a body scissors! Fans fire up as Titan brings Hiromu out to the floor! Titan then goes up, but Hiromu gets under! Titan holds on, but Hiromu brings him off the apron!

Titan goes to rana, but Hiromu blocks! Hiromu brings Titan up, to APRON POWERBOMB! Not the sunset flip but it may’ve done just as much damage! Fans rally and Hiromu gets up. Hiromu fetches Titan, puts him in the ring at 9 of 20, then covers. ONE!! Titan still has a lot of fight in him, but Hiromu drags Titan up. Hiromu CHOPS Titan to a corner, CHOPS again, then whips corner to corner. Hiromu runs in to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Hiromu brings Titan around and wraps on the headscissors squeeze! Titan kicks around, reaches out, and fans rally as he scoots forward, to the ROPEBREAK!

Hiromu lets go quickly, brings Titan up and whips, but Titan reverses. Hiromu holds ropes, BOOTS Titan back, then BOOTS again! Hiromu brings Titan around to snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Hiromu eggs Titan on. Titan stands to throw a forearm but Hiromu keeps egging him on. Titan throws more forearms, but Hiromu CHOPS! Hiromu whips, Titan holds ropes, and Titan BOOTS Hiromu! Titan runs but into an elbow! Hiromu whips, Titan reveres, Hiromu swings but Titan goes Matrix! And then CALF KICKS! Fans fire up again and both men rise. Titan roars, runs, but Hiromu puts him on the apron.

Hiromu swings, Titan counter punches and then springboards to CROSSBODY! Titan DROPKICKS Hiromu out! Titan runs to DIVE! Direct hit and the Young Lions protect fans! Both Hiromu and Titan are down but the fans rally up. Titan rises and he stands over Hiromu. Titan brings Hiromu up and into the ring, then drags him around by a leg. Titan stomps the leg, hooks it, and rolls into the TRAILER HITCH! Fans rally as Hiromu endures! Hiromu crawls, reaches out, claws his way over, and gets the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Titan lets off quickly. Titan storms up on Hiromu, but Hiromu throws a forearm!

Titan brings Hiromu up, Hiromu throws another forearm! Titan tries again but Hiromu throws another forearm! The forearms go back and forth, Titan hitting a bit harder than Hiromu. Hiromu still throws another forearm, but Titan fires off fast palm strikes, kicks and a SOBAT! Titan runs, but Hiromu follows to ELBOW him! Hiromu runs, but then fakes Titan to ELBOW again! Hiromu whips, but Titan reverses, only for Hiromu to block the DDT! FALCON ARROW! But Hiromu’s too tired to make the cover! Fans rally up, Hiromu hobbles over, and he brings Titan up. Fireman’s carry, CORNER DEATH VALLEY!

Fans fire up with Hiromu and he brings Titan up again. But Titan fireman’s carries! Titan throws Hiromu to the apron! Hiromu stands, ducks the haymaker and throws Titan by his mask! Titan kips up to PELE! Hiromu falls to the floor and fans fire up as Titan builds speed! Titan FLIES! Direct hit and the Young Lions get wiped out, too! Fans fire up more while Red Shoes checks them both. Hiromu and Titan stir so the ring count starts. Titan rises at 6 of 20, brings Hiromu up at 13 and puts him in at 15. Fans rally, Titan powers up, and Titan springboards! Hiromu moves, Titan rolls out of the stomps, but runs into a fireman’s carry! DYNAMITE PLUNGER! Cover, TWO!

Titan sputters and Hiromu is frustrated, but Hiromu brings Titan up to a fireman’s carry. Titan fights it, throws some elbows, but Hiromu throws him to a dragon sleeper! Titan spins around but Hiromu suplexes! Titan throws knees, gets free, but Hiromu kicks low. Hiromu runs but into the TORNADO DDT! Fans fire up, Titan gets the legs and hooks Hiromu up, JAVE INMORTAL!! Hiromu flails, fights the chinlock, but Titan keeps fighting for it! Titan has to bridge back up, and he pulls at hair! Hiromu keeps fighting Titan’s grip, fans rally up, and Titan knuckle locks an arm to chinbar! Hiromu breaks that to get the ROPEBREAK!

Titan undoes the hold and the fans fire up. Titan pounds the mat and the fans rally up behind him. Titan goes to the apron, springboards, but Hiromu catches him to a fireman’s carry! TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu fires up and he demands Titan to get up. Titan rises, Hiromu runs, HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! And then dragon sleeper, inverted suplex, but Titan victory rolls it! TWO, and Titan steps through! Hiromu cradles, TWO!! Fans fire up as both men get to opposite corners. Hiromu runs in, into a SUPERKICK!! Fans are thunderous as Titan pounds the mat and goes to the corner.

Hiromu is in another corner, Titan roars and runs in, LOCO LARIAT! Hiromu staggers, Titan goes up a corner! Titan leaps to DIVING NDOUBLE STOMPS!! Hiromu sputters, flounders and writhes as he clutches his chest! Titan roars again and he gets the legs! JAVE INMORTAL!!! Hiromu is caught!! Fans are thunderous, Hiromu reaches but Titan keeps pulling him backward! Titan thrashes, Hiromu claws at the mat, but HIROMU TAPS! TITAN WINS!!!

Winner: Titán, by submission (gains 2 points; Hiromu earns 0)

El Inmortal just defeated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion!! Everyone is shocked as Hiromu WON’T make the semifinals, meaning he WON’T have a chance at a four-peat! Hiromu’s larger dream of having a decade of BOSJ trophies dies already! But he shows Titan respect for the win here with a fist bump.

As for Titan, he gets the mic, and in Espanol, he says, “Firstly, all thanks to the Almighty God.” Naito tries to trick Japanese commentary into thinking Titan thanked him, but they known well enough that wasn’t the case. Titan then says, “Buenos noches, fans of NJPW! Beunos noches. To those who supported me tonight and all league long, good evening to all the fans of Los Ingobernables de Japon!” Fans cheer that, but Naito keeps trying to take credit for all this. Titan says he’s been working hard in both Japan and Mexico, “But I’m ready for what’s next, thanks to God’s grace. And also thanks to the support from all of you.

“This victory and league aren’t just for me. It’s for the Lord and for all of you!” Fans cheer that, and Naito stays quiet to let Titan have his moment here. Titan then says in Japanese, “Thank you very much!” Fans cheer that best of all, and Titan takes a bow. Will Titan soon have the spotlight all to himself in the semifinals and then become THE Best of the Super Juniors?

 

Here are the FINAL A Block standings!

Mike Bailey: 7-2, 14 points [SEMIFINALIST]
Titán: 6-3, 12 points [SEMIFINALIST]
Hiromu Takahashi: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Lio Rush: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Taiji Ishimori: 5-4, 10 points [INJURED]
TJP: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
SHO: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
DOUKI: 3-6, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
KUSHIDA: 2-7, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-8, 2 points [ELIMINATED]


My Thoughts:

A great ninth round for A Block here, with a handful of matches from B Block just to fill time. I of course skipped those, but I’m sure they were all really good. On paper, I could’ve skipped the first two A Block matches because all those guys were out, but it was still great fun seeing those matches. I should’ve figured Taguchi finally gets a win, and he ends up using a hybrid fighting style because while his serious style kept up with Kushida, it was butt-cheek-showing Taguchi that finished it. Douki VS Sho was also pretty good for more of the clever House of Torture cheating. I was wondering where Yujiro was, and here he is! This cheat helps Sho win but also gives a touch of momentum to Evil & Yujiro going into Dominion and the vacated double tag title match.

And of course, awesome stuff from the top four guys to get into the semifinals. I am grateful to modern technology for allowing us to pause videos and go back, because Lio VS Mike were just so, so fast. And the main event, Hiromu VS Titan, was equally awesome, and what a great shocker that Titan wins out! This is an awesome moment for both Mike and Titan, and Titan had a great closing promo, especially as I think this was his first time closing out the show. I believe this is also the first time a Mexican wrestler advances in the Best of the Super Juniors since Dr. Wagner Jr. in 1998, another great detail about this choice. I really hope Titan gets in to the finals, but we’ll have to wait and see who is coming in from B Block to know his chances.

My Score: 8.9/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

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

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

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

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

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

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

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

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Nia Jax speaks.

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

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

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

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

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

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

on

We’re just one step away from the Cup!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

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

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

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

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

No Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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