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Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (5/23/23)

It’s the Final Four!

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NXT White 'n' Gold Era

Two grudge matches on the way to gold!

The NXT Women’s Championship Tournament reaches the semifinals! Lyra VS Cora, Tiffany VS Roxie, who makes it through to Battleground?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • NXT Women’s Championship Tournament, Semifinals: Lyra Valkyria VS Cora Jade; Lyra wins and advances to NXT Battleground.
  • Axiom VS Dabba-Kato; Dabba wins.
  • Tyler Bate VS Eddy Thorpe; Bate wins.
  • Noam Dar VS Nathan Frazer; Frazer wins.
  • Hank Walker VS Tank Ledger; Hank wins.
  • Von Wagner w/ Robert Stone VS Luca Crusifino; Crusifino wins, by disqualification.
  • NXT Women’s Championship Tournament, Semifinals: Tiffany Stratton VS Roxanne Perez; Tiffany wins and advances to NXT Battleground.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tonight’s final four speak.

Lyra Valkyria says, “Two epic encounters now stand between me and the NXT Women’s Championship. Cora Jade, fate has brought us together once again. but my ferocity will carry me past you, all the way to Lowell, where I await my final obstacle.” But Cora Jade says “NXT needs me to be NXT Women’s Champion. Better yet, NXT wants me to be champion. Lyra, I saw how you were looking at my title last week, but trust me, honey, that’s all you’re gonna be doing. Looking up at the lights tonight, and looking at me becoming the new NXT Women’s Champion at Battleground.”

Tiffany Stratton says, “I never asked to be the It Girl of NXT, it just happened. When you’re the Center of the Universe, everything just perfectly falls into place. Roxanne Perez, you have no idea what I’m talking about, sorry n ot sorry. But after I’m done with you tonight, it’s off to Battleground to become the NXT Women’s Champ. Traveling first class, of course. Tootles.” Roxanne Perez says that, “In one year, I’ve lived a page out of my wildest dreams. But tonight’s not a fantasy, it’s a realty. Tiffany Stratton, you’re a moment maker, but I am a history maker. And nothing is gonna stop me from becoming a TWO-TIME NXT Women’s Champion.”

All four have said their piece, but who gets a piece of the action at Battleground? We start the semifinals right now!

 

NXT Women’s Championship Tournament, Semifinals: Lyra Valkyria VS Cora Jade!

The Morrigan has been hunting The Punk Rock Mean Girl, and she finally gets her shot! Will Lyra bring down the #GenerationOfJade? Or will Cora keep up the delusions that NXT needs her?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Cora KNEES Lyra low, throws her down, then laugh at her. But Lyra ROCKS Cora, and again, and again! Lyra whips, Cora reveres but Lyra goes up and over. Things keep moving, Lyra ducks ‘n’ dodges and springboards, but she slips! Cora drags Lyra up but Lyra cradles her! TWO!! Lyra hurries to get Cora up, snap suplexes, and then covers, TWO! Lyra rushes at the ropes but Cora puts her on the apron. Cora KNEES Lyra, traps her in ropes, and CHOPS her! Fans boo but Cora runs to SHOTGUN Lyra down! Cora covers, TWO! Lyra is still in this and Cora is annoyed.

Cora kicks at her but Lyra grabs the leg to throw Cora down! Body scissors and Gedo Clutch, TWO! SEATED SURFBOARD! Cora pulls Lyra back, just to STOMP her! Cover, TWO! Lyra crawls to ropes, Cora runs to IMPLODER STOMP! Cover, TWO! Cora keeps on Lyra with a chinlock stretch but Lyra endures. Fans rally, Lyra fights up, and she throws body shots. Fans fire up, Lyra ROCKS Cora, and then Lyra goes to a corner. Cora runs in but into a BOOT! Lyra goes up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Both women are down and fans fire up. Lyra goes to ropes, Cora rises, and Lyra SOBATS! KICKS! And HEADBUTTS! Then AX KICKS!

Lyra reels Cora in, NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO and Lyra rolls through! Cora fights the lift, throws knees, and Lyra goes back to a corner. Cora runs in, but Lyra blocks shining wizard for a NORTHERN LIGHTS! No bridge but Lyra still covers, TWO! Lyra keeps focus and rushes in again, but Cora YANKS her into ropes! Cora runs but Lyra dodges! Cora hits ropes, then Lyra hits a HEEL KICK! Cover, Lyra wins!!

Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (advances to NXT Battleground)

In the blink of an eye, Lyra snatches this away from Cora and has her golden ticket to Lowell! Who will join Lyra on the Battleground to fight for the grandest prize?

Wait, Cora CHOP BLOCKS Lyra! Cora shrieks “That’s MY title!” Cora grabs her favorite kendo stick, and SMACKS Lyra’s leg!! Fans boo but some want that “One More Time!” Cora leaves while refs check Lyra’s leg, will Lyra be in any shape to fight at Battleground on Sunday?

 

Dijak arrives backstage.

And he gets a FLYING KICK from Ilja Dragunov!! The Czar is still standing after Dijak tried to break him last week, and now he’s gonna see if he can break Dijak! Chair shot to the back! And then he RAMS Dijak into a garage door! And then Dragunov opens that garage door, punches and stomps Dijak to be under it, and he brings it down! Dragunov is returning the favor from a few weeks ago, but refs and trainers stop him from going further! Will UNBESIEGBAR bring down Hard Justice even before their NXT Battleground Last Man Standing match?

 

Axiom VS Dabba-Kato!

The Undeniable Truth exposed Scrypts quite literally, but now he wants to take on the biggest challenge he physically can. Is Axiom trying too much too soon? Or will he actually climb the mountain of a man that is Dabba-Kato?

The bell rings and fans fire up. Dabba looks at Axiom and almost laughs at how much taller he is. But then Axiom KICKS him in the leg! And again! Dabba rushes in, Axiom dodges, but Dabba blocks a kick, only for Axiom to ENZIGURI! Dabba stays up but he’s wobbling, and Axiom hurries after. Dabba grabs Axiom by the neck, but Axiom flips out of the choke slam! Axiom kicks and kicks and runs, but Dabba just tanks the shoulder! Dabba grabs Axiom to CHOP him down! Dabba then shoves Axiom over the ropes and out of the ring! Dabba then goes out after Axiom. Axiom SLAPS Dabba, but Dabba CHOPS Axiom down!

Fans fire up, Dabba scoops Axiom to a trophy lift, and he TOSSES Axiom back into the ring! Dabba climbs the ropes but Axiom gets a leg! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Dabba hobbles, Axiom KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Axiom runs, springboards, and dropkicks the leg out! Dabba is on his knees, Axiom KICKS him in the chest! And again! Axiom runs, but into a KING KONG LARIAT!! Dabba grabs Axiom with both hands, MOUNTAIN BOMB!! Cover, Dabba wins!

Winner: Dabba-Kato, by pinfall

But Dabba isn’t done! He stands Axiom up to fire off hands and stomps in a corner! The ref reprimands, Dabba lets off, but then Dabba SPLASHES Axiom in the corner! Fans boo, but SCRYPTS- Er, REGGIE leaps in! Reggie fires off on Dabba, but Dabba shoves him away. Dabba rushes at Reggie but Reggie dumps him out! Fans are fired up for Reggie as he tells Dabba to get his ass outta here! The refs rush in to stop this from getting any worse! Dabba is furious, but why did Reggie help Axiom? Reggie helps Axiom up but Axiom shrugs him off. Reggie tries to talk it over with Axiom and fans want them to “Hug it out!” It doesn’t seem Axiom wants Reggie’s help, but will he need it?

 

NXT has footage of Tony D’Angelo’s interrogation.

The Don sits in a room, and in walks a detective. He thanks Mr. D’Angelo for coming and asks how things are going. Tony says you already know how things are going, so let’s just get to it already. Then to the point, why is Tony’s name coming up in ongoing investigations? He doesn’t know. Tony is an upstanding pillar of society. Well there are some tips- Tips? From who? Maybe if Tony tips the detective, he can go? So is that bribing an officer of the law then? Whoa, hey, relax! He was just joking. Well, what’s not funny is the situation Tony finds himself in. They have video from an informant-

Whoa, whoa, whoa. An informant? Like a rat? No, like an informant. Who is in this video? Is this you, Tony? Tony mugging Pretty Deadly? Tony says the footage is a bit weak. It’s dark and at night, grainy even. Look, Tony will say this: there is no way that is him. It’s not? So then- Another knock at the door. Another detective walks in to tell Detective Stewart that some new information has come in that he will want to see. In that case, be right back. Tony waits alone in the room, tries to eavesdrop, but who knows if he can hear anything. Who is this informant that dropped a dime on The Don?

 

Bron Breakker speaks.

“Stand & Deliver was the culmination of my year long reign as NXT Champion. Anything less than your best, you’re not gonna get your hand raised when you’re in there with a superstar like Carmelo.” Bron lost that night, Melo showed him respect, and Bron thinks, “What did this last year get me? All the media, all the live events. I stayed after all the live events and signed as many pictures as I could.” Big match after big match, defending the brand, carrying the title, so that he could pass the torch that he knows he’s better than? Melo can have the torch, because Bron’s gonna burn this all down.

Bron snapped, beat up Trick Melo Gang, has continued to beat up on Trick Melo Gang, and Melo tries to say they’re “cut from the same cloth.” To Bron, “Melo’s just a dude walking around with a title that’s got my singlet colors printed on the center of it. We ain’t the same! I just finally woke up!” There’s a level down here, he’s on the level up above it. Anyone can be Him, no one else can be Bron! He cut Melo in half putting him through the stage. Melo tries to make a comeback, Bron speared him outta the sky! Bron isn’t going to Battleground for a homecoming. He’s going there in front of Melo’s fans, friends and family, to dish out a massacre.

 

Gallus is here!

Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey & Wolfgang stand in the ring together, and Joe says, “Well now, well now, well now. Sunday’s Battleground looks absolutely stacked!” Wolfgang was sure Tony D & Stacks were gonna challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championships ever since that meeting in the pub, but he hasn’t seen them anywhere since! Joe says no, Wolfie, that’s because Tony is… detained! Oh, you don’t say? Tony must’ve upset someone down at the docks. If Joe was gonna bet money, we’re not gonna see Tony for a long, long time. And good riddance! Mark says the Creeds were gonna step up to them. Were gonna call them? Mark has no missed calls, though.

Joe says the Creeds must take after Tony & Stacks. Talk a big game, get all hyped up, and then they think- Oh, wait, here come the Creeds after all! The green lights get moved aside by the Diamond Mine blue, and Julius asks Brutus, “It sounds to me that the big bad Gallus boys don’t want a challenge. And that’s right, last week, we did call for you! But this week, we found you and we’re saying it to your faces. NXT Battleground, Gallus, Creeds, titles on the line. Ring, ring, ring. You gonna answer?” Mark says easy, they get it. The Creeds are all hyped up, they want to regain the tag titles. The problem is, Gallus are an entirely different animal.

Brutus says no, the problem is that Gallus is full of surprises. But they dealt their last hand at Stand & Deliver! Wolfie says this firm has had more fights than the Creeds have had hot dinners. Brutus does love dinner. Julius knows he is, he’s always hungry. But uh, Gallus’ guts are showing they’ve had a lot of dinners, too. But hey, this isn’t about bar food. This isn’t about darts or pool. This is about the fight about to take place in Lowell. They’re gonna go in and fight, but only two leave with titles. And it’s the Creeds time! Oh, they think they can throw hands with Gallus, huh? They sure do! Then the brawl is on!

Fans fire up as Julius TACKLES Joe! Then he helps Brutus against Mark and Wolfie! But this is still 3v2! Fans are on the Creeds’ side but that’s not enough! Mark & Wolfie get Julius up, but STACKS CLOBBERS MARK! Fans fire up as Stacks helps turn the tables! Brutus clotheslines Joe out! Gallus regroups and the Iron King has his guys stand down. Will Gallus not be on top against Diamond Mine at Battleground?

 

Backstage interview with Wes Lee.

McKenzie Mitchell is with the North American Champion and says last week was rough on him. Attacked in the locker room by The Schism, and now a crack in the bond with Tyler Bate. Wes is a bit unsure what to say, but he does say that everyone does look out for themselves in NXT. That’s the nature of the beast. But Wes really thought he could trust Tyler. Maybe Gacy is messing with Wes, or maybe Wes is paranoid because everyone wants to ruin his title defense record. Things have changed. Wes might need to stop letting people get close to him, who knows.

McKenzie does bring in someone to talk. It’s Tyler Bate! Wes says save it, Tyler doesn’t need to be friends anymore to get a title shot. But Wes will be paying close attention to Tyler’s match with Eddy Thorpe, now that he knows what he’s really after. Wes leaves, Tyler wishes he’d understand. Tyler explains that him wanting the title doesn’t change that he has respect for Wes and everything he’s done. Joe Gacy, though, is a different kettle of fish. But we’ll just have to wait and see at Battleground. Tonight, Tyler has Thorpe to worry about. Will the Big Strong Boi be able to focus against the Alpha Wolf?

Tyler Bate VS Eddy Thorpe!

NXT returns as Bate makes his entrance. Wes is on commentary to watch closely, just as he said. The bell rings and Bate ties up with Thorpe. Thorpe wrenches an arm, Bate goes around, rolls, and spins to then break free with a leg. Bate wrenches Thorpe, Thorpe rolls and kips and wrenches to get around and waistlock, then headlock. Fans fire up, Thorpe holds on as Bate tries to power out. Thorpe hits a takeover, Bate moves around, and Bate rolls to a cover. TWO, Thorpe holds on, so Bate tries again. ONE, and Thorpe still holds on. Fans rally, Bate fights up, and Bate spins out to wristlock and arm-drag!

Thorpe headscissors, Bate kips free and trips Thorpe! Cover, ONE, and they knuckle lock. Bate kicks, steps over, gets around, baits Thorpe in then duck sunder. Thorpe doesn’t fall for the next freebie and fans applaud. The two circle, tie up, and Thorpe gets around to a waistlock. Thorpe lifts but Bate arm-drags free. Thorpe runs in, Bate dodges, drops and DROPKICKS! Fans fire up, Bate covers, TWO! Bate keeps on Thorpe and fireman’s carries, but Thorpe fights free! Thorpe waistlocks, Bate elbows free, and then RAMS low. Bate whips, Thorpe reverses and SPINNING CROSSBODIES! Fans fire up and duel while both men are down.

Thorpe brings Bate up, but Bate cradles! TWO and Thorpe CHOPS! Bate grits his teeth, Thorpe snapmares him to KICK in the back! Cover, TWO! Thorpe keeps Bate down in a seated cobra twist. Fans rally, Bate fights up, but Thorpe wrangles him back down. Bate fights up, fans rally, but Thorpe gets him for a standing cobra twist! Thorpe CLUBS Bate, pulls on the hold, but Bate pries the hold apart. Bate gets under a clothesline to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUTS again! But Thorpe SOBATS! Bate goes to a corner, Thorpe runs in, but he blocks Bate’s boot, only for Bate to KNEE him away!

Bate goes up, leaps, FLYING UPPERCUT! And then an EXPLODER! Bate kips up, fans fire up, and Bate SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, Bate drags Thorpe up again, and he underhooks the arms! Thorpe slips free of the driver to UPPERCUT! Thorpe kicks, whips, but Bate ducks ‘n’ rebounds, but Thorpe BOOTS him! But Bate bucks the O’Conner! Thorpe runs in, Bate dodges to REBOUND LARIAT! Bate hurries to underhook, TYLER DRIVER 97!! Cover, Bate wins!

Winner: Tyler Bate, by pinfall

Wes applauds because that was a good match, but GACY ATTACKS! Gacy beats down Bate, and Wes can’t stand it! Wes gets in to run up on Gacy, but Gacy moves and Wes DECKS Bate! Wes realizes his mistake, but turns around into the UPSIDE-DOWN! Gacy takes out Wes and Bate, then picks up the belt. Will The Schism finally have gold hanging from the tree?

 

Backstage interview with Lyra Valkyria.

McKenzie is with Lyra in the medical room as she has ice on the leg. Lyra is going to the finals of the tournament but Cora may have just injured her. Does she have a medical update at this time? Lyra says her knee is bruised and swollen, but she has to wait for that to go down first. Lyra doesn’t feel a tear or ligament damage, so she’ll be fine. No matter what, she’ll be fine. She can rehab all week, watch the other match, and be ready for the finals. Any preference as to who she faces? “This is the part where everybody gives a vague answer, right? And they say they’ll take on anyone.

“Nah, I want Roxanne Perez. In my eyes, she’s the best of NXT, and I wanna take on her for the championship.” McKenzie thanks Lyra for her time, but will Lyra get what she wants again?

 

Noam Dar VS Nathan Frazer!

The Scottish Supernova brought back his talk show, the Supernova Sessions, all to poke fun at Dragon Lee. But with a little help from the Home Hitting Hard Truths host, Dragon Lee now has a Heritage Cup Championship match at Battleground! Will Dar make Frazer pay for crashing the party? Or will Frazer expose Dar for the fraud he says Dar is?

The bell rings and Dar circles with Frazer. They tie up, Dar wrenches an arm to a wristlock then brings Frazer down. Frazer fights up, arm-drags, but Dar holds onto the wristlock. Frazer fights up, spins, and headlocks. Frazer grinds Dar, but Dar powers out the back to get a headlock of his own. Dar talks some trash but Frazer fights up to power out. Things speed up, Dar avoids the hurdle but Frazer avoids the sweep to hit a headlock takeover! Fans rally, Dar headscissors but Frazer kips free. Frazer gets the headlock and takeover again! Fans rally, Dar keeps his shoulders up, and Dar powers up.

Dar powers Frazer to ropes, the ref calls the break, and Dar lets off. Frazer avoids the cheap shot to hit the headlock takeover again! Dar keeps his shoulders up, fights around again, and Dar powers up, only for Frazer to hit yet another takeover. Dar fights up once again, knees low, and he throat chops! Dar whips, Frazer goes up and over and things speed up. Fans duel as Frazer redirects, and redirects, and redirects! Frazer then ducks ‘n’ dodges to DROPKICK Dar right out of the ring! Fans are thunderous and Dar crawls to the Heritage Cup on the pedestal. Dar tries to get encouragement from it as NXT goes picture in picture.

Dar stands, he catches his breath, and he slowly returns. Frazer rushes him, they both go out, and Frazer ROCKS Dar! And SMACKS Dar off the apron! Dar scrambles in, Frazer high-fives fans, and Frazer hurries back in. Frazer snap suplexes Dar and floats to a cover, TWO! Frazer stalks Dar to ropes, brings him up and CHOPS him! Frazer whips Dar to ropes, Dar reverses but Frazer sunset flips! TWO, and Frazer DROPKICKS Dar down! Cover, TWO! Dar is still in this, he wouldn’t be Heritage Cup Champion if he wasn’t tough. Frazer drags Dar up, cravats, cranks on the neck, and rolls with Dar.

Dar fights up, powers Frazer to ropes, but Frazer still rolls with Dar! Frazer keeps that cravat on tight, but Dar pulls hair. The ref reprimands, Dar knees low, but Frazer ROCKS Dar with a right! Frazer suplexes but Dar wrenches out to sweep the legs! Dar nods, feeling smug again. Frazer goes to a corner, Dar runs in to forearm smash! Dar eggs the fans on, he snapmares Frazer, and he UPPERCUTS Frazer in the back! Frazer goes to a corner, Dar whips him corner to corner but Frazer goes up and over and handsprings away. Dar runs in, but into a boot! Frazer goes up but Dar sweeps the legs again! Frazer lands hard, Dar covers, TWO!

Dar flexes to taunt Frazer as well as the fans, and then he clamps on with a top wristlock. Dar digs a knuckle into Frazer’s triceps, but Frazer endures. Dar cranks on the arm, NXT returns to single picture, and fans rally up. Frazer fights up, throws body shots, but Dar UPPERCUTS! Frazer goes to a corner, Dar runs in but Frazer dodges! Dar bounces off buckles, Frazer jumps up, but Dar kicks the legs out! Frazer hits the apron hard, Dar drags him up through the ropes. Dar has Frazer on the ropes, and feels like a Viper. But the ref counts, so Dar drops Frazer to KICK the arms out! Cover, TWO!

Dar grows frustrated but fans rally up. Dar drags Frazer around by an arm to stomp the arm! And then Dar stomps the other arm! Dar taunts Frazer, gets a leg and stomps that! Dar stomps the other leg, covers, TWO! Frazer crawls but Dar puts him in a corner. Dar climbs up to rain down elbows from above! The ref counts, Dar stops and he flexes again. Fans cheer and jeer but Dar stalks Frazer. Frazer throws body shots! Frazer ROCKS Dar with haymakers, but then Dar dodges to SUPERMAN FOREARM! Frazer flops to the ropes, Dar KICKS him! Frazer goes to another side, Dar KICKS him again!

Dar talks trash, KICKS but Frazer blocks! Dar throws hands, Frazer dodges and QUEBRADA into REVERSE DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Fans rally up, Frazer and Dar stand. Frazer counter punches Dar! And again! Frazer fires off more shots, CHOPS Dar in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Frazer runs in, Dar puts him on the apron but Frazer ROCKS him again! Frazer goes up, but he avoids the kick this time! Frazer ELBOWS Dar, then springboards to AX HANDLE! Fans fire up as Frazer rallies on Dar! Spin and suplex, ANARCHY! Cover, TWO! Dar is still in this and Frazer is beside himself!

Frazer goes to a corner, fans rally and duel, and Frazer goes up the corner. Frazer PHOENIX SPLASHES but he has to roll through! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS! Dar drops to a knee, but he blocks a kick! Frazer ENZIGURI but Dar spins under it! And then ANKLE LOCK! Frazer rolls to send Dar into buckles! Dar staggers back, into a PELE! Dar staggers around, Frazer QUEBRADA, but Dar dodges to ROUNDHOSUE! Pop-up ARMBAR! Frazer flails, clasps hands, fans duel and Dar CLUBS the hands! Dar has the ARMBAR in full! But Frazer fights around, stacks, TWO!! Dar lets Frazer go, but Frazer ducks the elbow! SUPERKICK!! Cover, TWO!!

Fans fire up and both men are down! Frazer is shocked but the fans are loving “NXT! NXT!” Dar and Frazer slowly rise, they go forehead to forehead, “This is Wrestling!” as both men throw hands! Frazer CHOPS! Dar forearms! Frazer CHOPS, and CHOPS, and MACHINE GUN CHOPS! But Dar JABS Frazer! Dar reels Frazer in, but Frazer cradle counters! TWO!! Dar blocks a kick, to BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO!!! Frazer is showing his own toughness, and now Dragon Lee walks out here. Dragon looks at the cup and fans fire up. Dar sees him and gets upset. Dar goes out to tell Dragon to back off.

Dragon says he’s just admiring the cup, and Dar shoves Dragon! Dragon is ready to punch Dar but Dar goes to the ring. Frazer DIVES and takes out Dar! Dragon laughs at Dar, Frazer puts Dar in! Frazer goes up, to PHOENIX SPLASH!! Cover, FRAZER WINS!!

Winner: Nathan Frazer, by pinfall

The Wonder Boy helps the British Rocket out here, meaning Frazer pins the Heritage Cup Champion! Will Frazer be next in line for the cup no matter who wins at Battleground?

 

Backstage interview with Ilja Dragunov.

McKenzie asks him that if he’s to sign the Hold Harmless Agreement with Dijak before their Last Man Standing Match, why attack Dijak here tonight? Dragunov says he is making Dijak feel the pain that awaits him on Sunday. Last week was torture but Dragunov was still standing. So Dragunov will sign the agreement so that at Battleground, the fight can go anywhere they want. And then, Dijak will understand what Dragunov means when he says he is UNBESIEGBAR! But Dijak storms in! The rest of the locker room tries to stop this but the brawl is back on! The others pull these two apart, but then Dijak gets loose!

There’s chaos backstage as these two keep wanting after each other! Will nothing stop these two from destroying their opponents and even themselves at Battleground?

 

Carmelo Hayes has a special homecoming.

Just last weekend, the NXT Champion returned home to Boston, Massachusetts and did the media tour, from 98.5 The Sports Hub to Boston 25 News, and was even on the Ten Count podcast. What is it like being back home? Melo feels very comfortable. It’s time for him to lock in, get ready, be around his people, his city, where he paid his dues. It just feels right. It will be his first time back as champion, especially THE champion. He’s of course very excited to be back around friends and family and to show them how he does what he does. This is a big moment. Melo even went to Kowloon’s to have a great dinner and sign a picture for them to put on their Wall of Fame.

Melo says it all feels right. He is in the City of Champions. You look at any major sports city, Boston’s right up there. It is only fitting that this champion comes home. He got to go to a Boston Celtics game, and the organization they are, they rolled out the red carpet. Just a couple days and it has been all love for Melo. Now, he defends against Bron Breakker. Does Bron have any idea what he is walking into? Coming into Melo’s backyard to beat him? That’s crazy! Bron is not prepared for what this is. It will be a hostile environment, Melo has earned a lot of love and respect in this area, this will be his homecoming. Bron wants to try and ruin that, but Melo’s dogs don’t bark, they bite.

That previous time in the ring with Bron, Melo learned everything he needs to know about Bron. Bron is big, fast, strong, but he isn’t Boston Strong, and he finds that out this Sunday.

 

Hank Walker VS Tank Ledger!

Though they make their entrance together, these two teammates and good friends are looking to sharpen iron with iron! Will they become a stronger team for this match? Or will all this blue collar brawling blow up in their faces?

The bell rings and the teammates shake hands to show there’s respect. The fans cheer, the two tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Tank gets a headlock but Hank powers up. Hank powers out, they RAM shoulders, and they both say, “Holy moly!” Tank and Hank go again, they RAM shoulders, and fans rally. They RAM shoulders again, and they’re firing up now! They both run to RAM shoulders! Tank pushes Hank to a corner, CLUBS him, CLUBS him and ELBOWS him! But then Hank shoots in to put Tank in the corner! Hank RAMS into Tank again and again, then CLUBS him! And CHOPS him!

Fans fire up as Hank brings Tank around, to scoop and- NO, Tank slips free and he RAMS Hank into buckles! Tank whips corner to corner, Hank staggers into a scoop and SLAM! Fans fire up as Tank cartwheels and DIVING HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! Tank stays fired up, he eggs Hank on, and Hank throws a haymaker! Tank hits back! Hank throws another, but Tank gives it back! Hank throws a body shot, and a forearm! Hank eggs Tank on and Tank swings. Hank gets around, scoops, and SLAMS! Tank staggers to a corner, Hank SPLASHES him! Hank whips corner to corner, Tank dodges, keeps moving, and DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide!

Fans fire up, Hank manages to cover, and Hank wins!!

Winner: Hank Walker, by pinfall

The hoss fight is over, and Hank helps Tank up. But Bron SPEARS Hank!! Fans boo but Bron SPEARS Tank!! The Big Booty Nephew just decimates two hosses at once! Fans chant “You Suck!” but Bron tells Melo he’ll see him Sunday. Will Bron become champion for a third time when he breaks… Him?

 

The Diamond Mine talks backstage.

The Creeds are going for gold and they’re all excited, and then Stacks walks over. So Tony finally got caught sleeping with fish, huh? Brutus, no, that’s not how that goes. Ivy smacks Brutus on the chest and Julius tells Stacks that though they haven’t always seen eye to eye, he appreciates Stacks having their backs out there. Well, Joe Coffey didn’t just screw the Creeds over at Stand & Deliver, he did that to everyone. The Creeds agree, and Brutus says that this Sunday, they’ll beat Gallus get those belts back. Then Gallus can be on the first plane back to Scotland.

Stacks says, “But here’s the thing. You’ll be as outnumbered in Lowell as you were tonight.” Good point. And with The Don begin detained, maybe they could work out an arrangement for Stacks to have their back? No offense, Stacks, but they’ve been burned trusting people before. Multiple times. Stacks understands that, no offense taken. But Julius says that when Tony gets free, the Family can have the first shot at the Creeds. Stacks appreciates that, and wishes them luck. But just how long will The Don be stewing in the police precinct?

 

Gigi Dolin is here!

Fans cheer the Toxic Avenger as she makes her way to the ring. Gigi isn’t headed to Battleground for the NXT Women’s Championship and we all know why. Gigi gets the mic to say, “I’m not shy about the broken home that I grew up in. Or the fact that my brother and I had to learn the hard way what addiction looks like from our parents. Neither of us ever knew what a stable family felt like. But when I came here, I thought I found one. I allowed Jacy Jayne in so she could tear everything down. She cut me out of her life when I would’ve done anything for her! But now I will do anything to end her.

“And the pain that is tattooed on my soul will be written all over your face, Jacy Jayne, when I purge everything I ever felt for you.” But Jacy appears in the upper deck to say, “Alright, alright, alright. That’s about as much of this emo talk as I can take for one night. Hey, Geeg! Remember this? This is where it all started. We used to sit up here in our lounge, looking down at everybody. We were on top of the world! It was truly the run of your career, riding shotgun to me.” Gigi shoots back, “If everything was so great, why throat it all away, huh?” Jacy says, “Because I outgrew you!”

Jacy got sick and tired of carrying Gigi through every single match we had. Everybody knew that Jacy was destined for bigger and better on her own. And Jacy refused to let Gigi drag her down any longer than she already had. Gigi says that’s funny, Jacy talking about moving on, because Gigi has been the center of Jacy’s attention since that kick to the face. It isn’t that Jacy wants to move on, it’s that Jacy will do whatever it takes that she’s not remembered as Toxic Attraction’s third wheel! Jacy says that’s funny, because as Jacy remembers, the last time they were in the ring together, Jacy beat her and embarrassed her in front of her “pathetic little brother.”

Gigi says okay, yes, Jacy won. But she also had to get eight stitches to fix that face. And before that, Gigi beat Jacy at Roadblock, so this is 1-1. How about we settle this here and now?! Fans want that, but Jacy says everyone loves Gigi, huh? The fans cheer, and Jacy says Gigi can go ahead and do what she does best: pander to her little troll fanbase that lives on social media. Y’know, the ones that love to eat up her “tragic, depressing, pathetic Instagram stories.” If there’s one thing Jacy can’t wait for, it is to be done with Gigi once and for all. So how about next week, they end this right where it all began?

However, Jacy doesn’t wanna do this in any ordinary match. She wants to end this in a STEEL CAGE!! Fans love that, and Gigi says she doesn’t pander to anyone. She wears her heart on her sleeve and has no problem doing so, because she is real! The fans all see it. Gigi is as real as it gets. Unlike Jacy, because Jacy~ Jayne~ “is a fake ass b*tch!” And if Jacy wants a cage, then let’s kick it up a notch to make it a WEAPONIZED CAGE! Jacy says Gigi’s on! Fans are ready for the Toxic War’s final chapter, but just how far will Gigi and Jacy go to bury this once and for all?

 

Luca Crusifino, Esquire speaks.

“After a series of unfortunate events, Von Wagner, tonight, you face legal consequences. I attempted to explain my position to your associate, Mr. Stone, but it’s fallen on deaf ears. That leaves me with no other option but to have this settled in that NXT ring tonight. And I promise you this, Von Wagner, I promise you, when you’re in the ring with Luca Crusifino, you’ll be regretting that you didn’t settle this outside of court.” Is Luca gonna throw the book at Von over losing his cool?

 

NXT Anonymous has another video.

They’re watching as Oro Mensah talks with Noam Dar. Dar’s been on the same roster as him for years, but only now is Dar turning to Oro? Get outta here! Dar says hold on, that’s why! He knows how good Oro is as a former NXT UK Tag Team Champion. Dar really needs Oro as a cornerman! Frazer will be in Dragon’s corner, so the number one needs a number two! Dar wants Oro to understand the opportunity being laid out here! Oro can strap himself to Dar’s rocket ad they’ll blast off into another stratosphere! What does Oro say? Oro says absolute NOT. Dar wants Oro to be reasonable! There must be an amount of money-

But then in walk Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson. Dar says hello to the ladies, and Lash says NOPE. Dar thought he was hotter than hot, but he can kiss his little cup good-bye! The ladies leave Dar behind. Dar says it’s not little! What is Supernova 11 to do without a second?

 

Von Wagner w/ Robert Stone VS Luca Crusifino!

The usually vicious and cold Von Wagner seems to have a sad secret that he didn’t want getting out. But the “Legal Eagle” poked fun at it and incurred the wrath of Von Wagner! Will Luca take Von to the cleaners since he couldn’t take him to court? Or will Luca soon learn why you don’t wake the sleeping giant?

The bell rings and fans sing “Von is gonna kill~ you!” Luca talks a bunch of trash, but Von picks him right up to RAM him into a corner! Von RAMS into Luca again and again, then fires off clubbing hands! The ref counts, Von lets off, and Luca crawls away. Von whips Luca to a corner, runs in and SPLASHES! Von then brings Luca around to whip and BOOT him down! Luca flounders away and fans actually cheer Von! Von goes out after Luca, puts him in the ring, and then hurries back in. Von runs but Luca dodges! Von hits buckles, Luca CLUBS him in the back! Luca stomps a mudhole in but Von shoves him away.

Von runs in, but into a QUICK DRAW from Luca! Cover, TWO! Luca fires off in a corner, the ref counts, but Von shoves him away. Von ROCKS Luca, ROCKS him again, then DECKS him! Von drags Luca up, whips him to ropes, and CLOBBERS him! Von drags Luca up, shoves him, but Luca holds ropes. Von runs in but Luca sends him tumbling out! Stone coaches Von but Luca gets in Stone’s face now. Luca wants the picture! Stone tells him no, but Luca gets it! The picture of baby Von and Luca says, “Look at this freak! Look at this freak!” Stone says that’s not right, but Von rises up!

Von storms over and fans says Luca messed up! Von CLOBBERS Luca again! Von puts Luca in, drags Luca up for more clubbing hands, but the ref counts! Stone tells Von to stop, but he goes past 5! The bell rings and Luca wins!

Winner: Luca Crusifino, by pinfall

But Von BOOTS Luca out! Fans want him to “KICK HIS ASS!” and Von TOSSES Luca into barriers! Stone says Von can stop, but Von doesn’t wanna stop! Von drags Luca up, fans want a table bomb, but Stone reasons with Von. Von lets Luca go, Stone thanks him, because otherwise he’ll get suspended. But then Von thinks about it. Von goes back to Luca! POWEROMBB on the desk!! The desk doesn’t break but Luca might have! Will everyone learn not to anger Von Wagner?

 

Tony D’Angelo is still stewing.

How long has he been in there in total? But then the detectives return. He asks if this is all cleared up, he’s gotta get Mama D’Angelo to the grocery store. The detectives say they’re fine, but Tony’s not. Stand up, put your hands behind your back. Seriously!? They read Tony his rights and he says this is ridiculous! He knows his rights, but do they know who he is? Where’s his phone call? Is The Don done for?

 

NXT Women’s Championship Tournament, Semifinals: Tiffany Stratton VS Roxanne Perez!

The Center of the Universe wants it all, but the Prodigy has already done it all. Will Tiffany have what she wants in a golden ticket to Battleground? Or will Roxie get started on her new memory board with that same opportunity?

NXT returns as Roxie makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. Tiff talks trash and pats little Roxie on her head, but Roxie swats that way. Tiff calls for a test of strength but holds her hand way up there. Roxie jumps up to grab that hand, and the two tie up. They go shoulder to shoulder, Tiff bends Roxie back, covers, TWO as Roxie kips up! Roxie kicks, wrenches, and waistlocks. Tiff throws elbows, grabs for a leg, but Roxie flips her over! O’Conner Bridge, TWO! Roxie headlocks but Tiffany stays up. Tiff pulls hair, powers out, and they RAM shoulders! Roxie rebounds to run Tiff over!

Things speed up, Roxie cartwheels then tilt-o-whirls, but Tiff handsprings through! Fans cheer the ability, Tiffany soaks it all in, but Roxie rolls Tiffany up! TWO, and Roxie runs back in. Tiff catches her, but Roxie sunset flips! TWO, and Roxie hurries to go after an arm. Roxie wrenches, wristlocks, but Tiff pulls hair again. Tiff puts Roxie in the corner, the ref counts, but Tiff lets off. Roxie ELBOWS Tiff, goes up, but Tiff gets under the jump. Roxie handsprings and arm-drags Tiff down! Roxie keeps on the arm with an armlock but Tiff fights up. Fans rally, Roxie wrenches, but Tiff ROCKS Roxie!

Fans boo but Tiff drags Roxie up to wrench the arm. Tiff YANKS the arm, YANKS it again, and wrenches again. Roxie throws body shots, cartwheels and headscissors Tiff right out of the ring! Fans fire up, Roxie builds speed, and Roxie DIVES, but into a fireman’s carry! Tiff shows strength but Roxie slips off! Roxie dodges, tilt-o-whirls, and sends Tiff into the apron! Roxie puts Tiff in the ring, climbs up the corner, and fans cheer, but Tiff sweeps the legs! Roxie falls to the mat and then the floor, and NXT goes picture in picture.

Tiff goes out after Roxie, drags her up and RAMS her into the apron! Tiff snarls, but Roxie throws hands! Tiff CHOPS Roxie back! Tiff talks trash, CHOPS Roxie again and puts her in the ring. Cover, TWO! Roxie goes to a corner, Tiff stomps away! The ref counts, Tiff lets off and she CHOKES Roxie on ropes! The ref counts again, Tiff lets off and YANKS the ropes. Roxie flops back, Tiff has a cocky cover, TWO! Tiff stomps Roxie, puts her on ropes and CHOKES her again! The ref counts, Tiff lets off to run and HIP ATTACK! Roxie falls over, Tiff covers, TWO! Tiff grows annoyed but she taunts Roxie.

Roxie throws body shots! And forearms! But Tiff throws Roxie by her hair! And then runs to DOUBLE STOMP! Cover, TWO! Tiff is furious but she clamps onto Roxie with a motorcycle stretch. Roxie endures and fans rally up. Roxie fights up, but Tiff wrangles her back down! Fans rally up as NXT returns to single picture, and Roxie fights up gain! Roxie turns things around but Tiff kicks her low! Tiffany says no one is taking that title from her, and she gut wrenches, but Roxie arm-drags free! And then SHOTGUNS Tiff out of the ring! Fans fire up, Roxie builds speed, and Roxie DIVES! Direct hit and down goes Tiffany!

Roxie keeps moving, she DIVES again! Another direct hit! Fans fire up with Roxie and she pushes Tiff back in. Roxie goes up the corner, Tiffany stands, and Roxie CROSSBODIES! Tiffany rolls through with it! Tiff pops Roxie up, ROLLING SENTON! PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER, but Roxie moves! Tiffany rolls through, but comes back into Roxie’s THESZ PRESS! Roxie fires fast hands, then runs at Tiffany to UPPERCUT in the corner! Roxie keeps going, to UPPERCUT Tiffany down! Tiffany staggers up, avoids Roxie’s boot, and pops her up, SKY HIGH! Cover, TWO!! Roxie survives and Tiffany is furious!

Fans fire up and Tiffany drags Roxie up. Fans rally for Roxie but Tiff hoists her up to hang her out to dry. Tiff goes up the corner, brings Roxie around to join her, but Roxie throws body shots! Roxie CHOPS Tiffany, stands on the very top, SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO!! Tiffany survives and Roxie is shocked! Fans fire up again and Roxie grits her teeth. Roxie brings Tiff up, throws more body shots, then fires off with windmilling shots at the ropes! Roxie wrenches, clinches, but Tiff throws Roxie by her hair! Tiff drags Roxie up, reels her in, POWER- RANA!! Roxie has the cover, TWO!! Tiff sunset flips, TWO!!

Tiff stands, into a V-TRIGGER! RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up with Roxie and she aims at Tiff. Tiff rises, Roxie SOBATS! Roxie hops on, but Tiff pops her off! Roxie hotshots off ropes, Tiffany hits the ROLLING SENTON! PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, TIFFANY WINS!!!

Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall (advances to NXT Battleground)

Tiffany toughs it out and takes out the Prodigy! Will NXT have no choice but to acknowledge Tiffany as The Center of the Universe? Tiffany and Lyra stare down by the title while Roxie makes her leave, but wait! Someone attacks Roxie!! It’s the hooded figure! The assassin of the NXT Women’s Division is beating down Roxie! Lyra and refs rush in, and the hooded figure runs away! Just who is that?!

 

Dijak heads to the ring.

But then Dragunov CLOBBERS him from behind!! Their brawl continues and fans are thunderous! The hands keep flying, Dijak ELBOWS Dragunov but Dragunov PELES Dijak! Fans fire up, Dragunov runs in, but Dijak dodge! Dragunov rams himself into steel steps! And then Dijak TOSSES Dragunov over barriers and into the gap! Dijak grabs the Hold Harmless Agreement and signs his part. Then he goes after Dragunov, but security rushes in. Dijak throws them all aside, and he choke grips Dragunov! But Dragunov SLAPS, SLAPS and SMACKS Dijak! And CHOSP! And CHOPS!

Dijak shoves Dragunov away, but Dragunov comes back to CHOP Dijak over the barriers! Dragunov gets a pen, signs his part of the agreement, and it’s all official! Fans are thunderous as Dragunov fights off security, but Dijak BOOTS Dragunov down! Dijak then pulls the steps apart! Dijak aims at Dragunov, but Dragunov kicks him lows! Dijak falls and smacks off the steps! Dragunov jumps off the steps for the FALLING FOREARM!! The fans are thunderous as Dragunov stands tall, but then Dijak rises! Just what will it take to end this at Battleground?


My Thoughts:

For a go-home show, this was awesome stuff. I didn’t cover them but there were some awesome video packages to hype up some stuff. Especially at the end there, that was a really great way to sum up what’s coming at Battleground. Also, great videos for Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes ahead of the title match. It is great that Melo got to have all those moments in his hometown area. Hank VS Tank was really good but also surprisingly short, and great for Hank to win, but I guess it was short because Bron was going to attack Hank and Tank. This kinda counts as Bron standing tall so I think Melo retains.

Really good match out of Axiom VS Dabba-Kato but I should’ve figured Dabba would win. But what a twist that Reggie came to Axiom’s rescue after Axiom punked him out and took his Scrypts mask. It also seems a strange character move, I thought Scrypts wanted to be Axiom’s archnemesis, not an ally. Also good stuff out of Gallus, the Creeds and Stacks. Interesting aesthetic choice for Gallus to have green light bathing the entire area for their promos, but good promo and brawl to make Gallus VS Creeds the official tag match.

But does Stacks feel suspicious to anyone else? Tony D’Angelo is arrested, Stacks is more concerned about being The Creeds’ corner man to help against Gallus. But at the same time, Creeds did promise the Family a title match, so maybe Stacks is multitasking in trying to help Tony both legally and in his career. I guess we’ll see after Battleground, but it’d be an amazing level of kayfabe to have Tony go to trial and maybe even spend some time in prison until Stacks can bail him out. If only Cole Karter wasn’t still with AEW/ROH, he could make a huge return being the guy reporting Tony to the police.

Really good stuff with Wes Lee, Tyler Bate and Joe Gacy. A bit of a shame Eddy Thorpe had to be fed to this story to help get Bate momentum, but I suppose getting his first loss out of the way is fine. Gacy attacking both Wes and Bate made a lot of sense, and him standing tall of course means Gacy isn’t winning. Either Wes breaks the record or Bate adds another belt to his accolades. I’m fine with either of those outcomes. But at the same time, what is Gacy supposed to do to stay relevant in NXT? The Dyad didn’t win tag titles, Gacy tried for NXT Championship and lost, and Ava hasn’t even wrestled all that much so when is she supposed to get women’s title? Maybe Gacy defies go-home math and wins after all just out of necessity.

Great match out of Dar VS Frazer, and Dragon Lee helping Frazer win makes me think Dar wins to keep the cup. But since Dar is looking for a corner man, I am really hoping this is the time they bring back Sha Samuels. Sha and Dar had such great chemistry in UK, I hope the US audience gets to finally see that in person. Good stuff from Von, Stone and Luca, and I really like that the fans have come around on Von because of this story. Von gets to use his “I beat people up” thing in a Face way because he’s doing it to bullies, and while Luca gets the win, Von is really the winner because he bodied that guy. I just hope the WWE can make this story work on RawDown, because I am not sure the overlap between RawDown viewers and NXT.

Great promo from Gigi and Jacy, and I actually like that they’re going with a Steel Cage for this. Neither Gigi nor Jacy have someone on their side that can cheat this thing, and being weaponized, it’s almost like Hell in a Cell or something. This could go either way, but since it’s after Battleground, it really depends on who will be the new Women’s Champion. We got great matches from both Lyra VS Cora and Tiffany VS Roxie, and instead of going with the seemingly obvious Roxie VS Cora, they went with the exact opposite. I suppose that’s fine, Roxie’s already done a lot and now it’s time for her to be in the chase. Of course, she also got attacked by the hooded assailant of the Women’s Division, so maybe Roxie gets to the bottom of who that is and has a great feud with them.

My Score: 8.6/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

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

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

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

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

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

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

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

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Nia Jax speaks.

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

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

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

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

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

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

on

We’re just one step away from the Cup!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

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

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

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

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

No Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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