Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Report! (11/13/17)
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Triple Threat: Mickie James VS Bayley VS Dana Brooke; Bayley wins and joins the Raw Women’s Team at Survivor Series.
- Enzo Amore & Drew Gulak VS Kalisto & Akira Tozawa; Enzo & Gulak win.
- Jason Jordan VS Bray Wyatt; Jordan wins.
- Six Man Tag: The Shield VS The Miz & The Bar w/ The Miztourage; The Shield wins.
- Finn Balor & Samoa Joe VS The Club; Balor & Joe win.
- Braun Strowman VS Kane; no contest.
PLAY BY PLAY
It has been three weeks since Raw was #UnderSiege.
And yet, it is as the New Day has said: Raw has done “nothing~!” At least, Raw seems to claim so, as Raw GM Kurt Angle denies knowing Kane was going to attack SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan! And even after being screwed out of the Raw Tag Team Titles by The New Day’s #UnderSiege2 “pump fake”, Raw did “nothing~!”
The Raw Commissioner, Stephanie McMahon, is here!
And she welcomes Atlanta to Monday Night Raw, and speaks on decisions she must make that impact everyone from fans to talent to shareholders to staff. Things that normal people can’t even fathom, which is why she needs “true leaders” running the show. As such, she introduces us to Team Captain, Kurt Angle!
The Olympic Gold Medalist was put on notice at the same time he was appointed to the Raw Men’s Team, and he wishes Stephanie to understand that he was prepared for the New Day’s raid. She’s not upset, but she is curious how The New Day got in. No idea. Well he’s honest. Was there an actual raid? No… But Angle “valiantly” led the charge, no doubt. Was there a raid? Or was Raw tricked? Stephanie can make a highlight reel for Survivor Series out of this stuff. She’s being harsh, the fans love Angle. Angle makes good on being team captain, with the Fifth Man being… Jason Jordan. Who is he? A capable wrestler. No, who is he to Angle? His son. And what has Jordan done to make him valuable to team Raw? He’s very talented. Okay, maybe we should put this another way. Who is SmackDown’s Fifth Man? John Cena. Yes, the 16 time World Champion and franchise player, John Cena. And last Stephanie saw Cena, he was on Raw. So, Angle chose his son instead of Cena? Or Cena decided to join SmackDown when he got snubbed? You’d have to ask Cena. But seeing as fans love Angle, here’s a second chance. What is Angle going to do at Survivor Series? Break Shane’s ankle. Angle is captain, he’ll start the match, and if Shane “has the balls”, he’ll start, too. What, is this the 1990’s? That you two are going to go 1v1, that Shane is going to man up? No Shane is going to have the others do his dirty work. Plus, Stephanie doesn’t think Angle could break anyone’s ankle. Angle’s gone soft and is going to be Stephanie’s biggest mistake. Shane is trying to ruin the show their father made 25 years ago, Stephanie put that burden on Angle and yet Angle is not changing her mind. Don’t break ankles, put heads on platters! DECIMATE SmackDown. But Stephanie has no other choice. Angle — “Sierra, Hotel, India, Echo, Lima, Delta. Shield.”
Yes, the Shield is here, in full! Roman Reigns is healthy, Roman Reigns is with his brothers in Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, and the trio heads down the steps and to the ring. Stephanie wants the fans to make up their minds, are they cheering or not? Ambrose says that there have been a lot of leaders for Raw, none better than Angle. Angle is their guy, TLC proved he’s still got it. The fans join in, “You Still Got It!” Be that as it may, the Shield is missing those tag titles. They lost because of Angle. Are they even going to be at Survivor Series? Is it Angle or the New Day who made them look like fools? And where was Roman anyway? Wow a lot of questions. How about where’s Stephanie been? She wasn’t here for months, and all that happened was going through a table at WrestleMania. Oh, sorry, Rollins. It was HHH who put her through a table. Did she forget how this works? The Shield doesn’t do what she tells them, they do what they want. And they’d like to do something. Stephanie and Atlanta are all ears. The Shield wants The New Day. And if The New Day has balls, then there will be a match at Survivor Series. And The Shield will handle that. Angle has Team Raw, and The Shield will whoop the New Day’s ass. Raw is raring to go, can they win big at Survivor Series?
Triple Threat: Mickie James VS Bayley VS Dana Brooke!
With only one spot left on Raw’s Women’s Team, three must fight to be the Fifth Woman! As such, Team Raw’s Captain Foxy, “Bossy Banks”, Empress of Tomorrow and Brutal Beauty are ringside to watch.
The bell rings, the three circle, tie up, but Mickie gets the edge, double takedown on! Dropkick sends Bayley out, Mickie’s alone with Dana, snapmare and running — Baley trips Mickie up, covers Dana, TWO. Bayley brings Dana up, is put in a corner, Mickie comes back in to kick and whip but is reversed, collides with Bayley, Dana handsprings to hit them both. Dana keeps things moving, but Mickie dodges and Bayley runs Dana over. Bayley is dumped to the apron, Mickie comes back, Dana helps out, Bayley goes down to the ground. We go to break as Dana and Mickie stare down.
We return, Dana has Mickie caught in a corner, she rolls out but into Bayley’s back suplex! Mickie swings, gets a back suplex! Bayley throws Dana out to the apron, hotshot! But Mickie gives a flapjack to Bayley, kip-up to fire up. Mickie climbs up top, Bayley stops her with a forearm then climbs up to join her. They brawl on the top rope, Bayley is knocked away. Mickie takes aim, seated senton!
Dana breaks the pin, but gets forearms from Mickie. Back kick, front kick, Mickie runs to forearm Dana down. Bayley goes after Mickie, gets a stiff neckbreaker. Bayley bails out of the ring, Micke gives Dana a running facebuster. Dana rolls out, Asuka checks on Dana. Dana gets pissed, hits Asuka, that was a mistake. Dana gets in the ring, Asuka chases her out! Heel kick rocks Dana down! Bayley goes after Mickie, but she get rolled up, TWO! Neckbreaker denied into backslide, TWO, Mickie kicks, but Bayley hits Bayley2Belly! Bayley wins! She’s on the team! With all five spots filled, can this combination defeat SmackDown’s?
Enzo Amore & Drew Gulak VS Kalisto & Akira Tozawa!
The Certified Cruiserweight Champion and “Gabber Gulak” of the ‘Zo Train are in Atlanta, How You Doin’? Very well, thank you. Not you, Gulak. And days before taking on the Lucha Dragon to defend Enzo’s “boo”, as well as the future of 205 Live. Gulak wants to make it better, but it’s already great because Enzo’s on it. Kalisto has no money, no pockets like basketball shorts. Gabber Gulak gets time to talk, except for Kalisto and Tozawa appearing!
The bell rings, Gulak starts against Kalisto, but Tozawa wants in so Kalisto tags. “HAH! HAH! HAH!” echoes throughout the arena as they tie up, Gulak gets an arm lock and throws Tozawa down. Headlock, Tozawa powers out but Enzo tagged in and tackles Tozawa. The two stomp and whip but Tozawa dodges, Kalisto tags in. Springboard missile dropkick gets two for one! Team “Luch-AH!” in control as we go to break.
We return, Gulak has Tozawa in a cravat. The fans “AH! AH! AH!” for the Stamina Monster, he feeds off the energy and fights out of the hold. Gulak grabs Tozawa again to keep him away form kalisto, Tozawa rocks him with right hands and a kick. Gulak keeps Tozawa down, stomp to the back. He swings on Kalisto, but gets into a saido suplex from Tozawa! Fans rally with “Lucha! Lucha!” chants. Tozawa and Gulak crawl, tag to Enzo and Kalisto! Kalisto springboard seated senton to Enzo, then a mule kick, front kick and whip. Reversed, but Kalist tumbles over and kicks Enzo away. Springboard crossbody hits, Gulak goes to break, Kalisto evades so that elbow drop lands on Enzo! Tag to Tozawa, he climbs up, missile dropkick takes Gulak down. Gulak is sent out onto Enzo, then “Luch-AH!” as the TOZAWA TORPEDO hits! But that’s not the end of it, Kalisto springboard swantons! Cruiserweights are all over the floor, so a ring count must begin. Kalisto gets to his corner, Tozawa fires up, he puts Enzo in. Enzo is kicked again, Tozawa has him in the right spot. Tozawa up, takes aim, but Gulak goes to save Enzo. Kalisto wipes Gulak out with a cannonball! Then Tozawa brings Enzo up, Enzo pushes him into Kalisto, Jor-DONE-Zo! Enzo rolls up, Enzo and Gulak win! Enzo took advantage of environment, but will he still have his “Boo” when it’s 1v1?
Kurt Angle meets with Team Raw.
Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman and Jason Jordan are all there, and they all heard Stephanie McMahon earlier. He’s taking no chances. Joe and Finn wanted to tear each other apart just last week, but Angle wants them to focus on Shane McMahon, John Cena, Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura and Bobby Roode. These two need to get along, so they’re teaming up against The Club, Gallows & Anderson. And Jordan pissed a lot of people off, including Stephanie, so he must impress tonight by going up against “the most sadistic superstar” around, Bray Wyatt. And Braun wants Kane. Well- Braun, wants, Kane. Then he’ll get Kane, in the main event. Can Team Raw get some final momentum before Survivor Series?
Time for Miz TV!
The Most Must-See Talk Show in WWE history hypes up Survivor Series and how it is truly Raw VS SmackDown. Most importantly at Survivor Series, “internet tough guy” Baron Corbin gets to step into the ring with The Miz, unless he loses that US Championship to Sin Cara on SmackDown. Some think it won’t happen, but it’s Corbin’s MO. He failed to use his Money in the Bank briefcase to become world champion, and his US Championship reign has been “lackluster at best.” Corbin wasn’t even on the show last week, so he wasn’t even the bathroom break! There’s a level Miz is on and a level Corbin is on, Miz’s is higher! If Miz doesn’t have opportunities, he makes them and capitalizes! Just look at tonight: The Miz can “have one of the most momentous victories” against The Shield. And by his side will be two men laser focused on winning even when SmackDown looked to invade: The newRaw Tag Team Champions — and Miz’s close, personal friends — Sheamus & Cesaro!
The Bar are once again champions but still not liked by the WWE Universe. Miz congratulates them on the win, and they appreciate it. But it was no surprise, they did what they always do: eyes on the prize. While Rollins & Ambrose wanted to defend Raw, The Bar just wanted back what belonged to them. An opportunity presented itself, they capitalized, and they’re now three time Raw Tag Team Champions. Give it up for the champs! Boos and jeers instead. The Bar are the real WWE tag team champions, unlike the SmackDown champions, The Usos. Yes, they won the “cute little B-Show” titles. Fans remind Sheamus that he looks stupid. When Miz’s hand goes up, your mouth goes shut, and you will respect your champions! As Sheamus was saying, The Bar are the A-Team tag champs. They are the flagship show’s champs! “Damn it, we are the Raw tag team champions!” And they’re gonna jailbreak the Uso Penitentiary! Just like they’re going to finally break the Shield! Yes, the true Shield, too. No glory hogging Kurt Angle stepping in, it is Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. Think of the magnitude! Look at the odds they had to overcome, like betrayal and years of infighting, and now they’re reunited just to face The “Hollywood Bar”, the champions of Raw! This is not The Shield’s moment but theirs! Because they don’t just set the bar, they are the bar. Can Miz and friends really ruin the storybook reunion?
Jason Jordan VS Bray Wyatt!
The Gold-Blooded Son needs to step up and prove he isn’t just being favored by his father, can he do so against the returning Eater of Worlds? The bell rings, the two circle, Wyatt swings but gets chased to ropes. JJ backs off so Wyatt can return, they tie up and JJ gets a waistlock. Wyatt backs him down, ropebreak in a corner, Wyatt walks away but comes back in, misses, Wyatt spooks JJ with that lean-back. Wyatt comes out, JJ dropkicks him down, then a waistlock. Ropebreaks made dirty as Wyatt hits JJ and then runs him down with a headbutt. Angle is watching this as JJ still lifts Wyatt up and puts him in a corner. Then, corner to corner! JJ is fired up, runs in corner to corner for the shoulder tackle. Overhead suplex! Wyatt rolls out, JJ pursues from around the corner to build speed, but misses wide and runs into barriers.
Wyatt has turned the tables, “you don’t know who you’re messing with, kiddo.” We go to break as the Face of Fear looms over JJ.
We return, Wyatt has JJ in the ring with a chinlock, but fans are rallying. JJ gets free but gets an uppercut, Wyatt goes after the leg, which JJ tweaked during break. Back senton to squash, TWO. Wyatt keeps on that leg, Wyatt dares JJ to get up. JJ does and fights back but then gets rocked by a stiff right uppercut. Wyatt keeps on JJ’s leg, JJ clutches it in pain. Wyatt brings JJ up, “Is he a hero?” Wyatt clubs JJ back down, then lift shim up for a scoop slam. JJ slips out, but that leg gives out, Wyatt boots JJ down, then slams him with a vicious yurinagi!
Wyatt goes to the corner, fans get loud as he does the spider walk. JJ rocks Wyatt with a right hand of his own! Then a back elbow out of a corner, JJ staggers over, Sister Abigail- roll up! JJ pulls off the win! And Stephanie was there to watch it. Has this valiant effort impressed her?
Wyatt clobbers JJ! Wyatt isn’t done with the Gold-Blooded Son, he runs JJ over with a lariat! Then he puts JJ onto the apron, and takes that bad leg to throw it against the post! JJ writhes in pain, Angle is devastated as he hurries out of the office. Fans chant “Thank you, Wyatt!” as they’re clearly not fans of Angle’s son.
JJ needs to be helped away, will he be in any shape to compete at Survivor Series?
Kurt Angle checks on Jason Jordan in the trainer’s room.
A lot of ice for that battered knee, and Jordan says he’s okay but… Jordan says Angle competed through injuries, Jordan wants to do the same. But he needs to be at 100%, not 90%. But this is Jordan’s chance, the opportunity he’s wanted for his entire life! He deserves this, doesn’t he, Dad? What will Angle decide come Survivor Series?
Altanta becomes Suplex City!
As such, fans duel “AJ Styles!” “Suplex City!” to the enjoyment of Paul Heyman, Advocate of the “reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Champion, BROCK, LESNAR!” And Lesnar has authorized Heyman to list the top five reasons to watch Survivor Series on the WWE Network. First selling point: the first time a Universal Champion and a WWE Champion will go 1v1, and the first time Lesnar goes up against Styles. This may be the only time these two ever have a match, so to put it simply, “don’t miss it!” Second selling point: Heyman wants to see this, too! He knows Lesnar better than anyone, and has seen with his own eyes this year alone, Lesnar has gone against the biggest and baddest but no one is better. Styles is an interesting opponent, and has mastered something that you learn in fight sports, “Speed Kills.” Styles has the speed advantage but that’s not all. Third selling point: “She said yes!” Oh, wait, someone proposed at this time? How sweet. Because she’s never had a Beast like Lesnar. By the way, interrupting a Heyman promo is tantamount to fighting Lesnar: you won’t win. Third selling point: Styles is the “single most talented in-ring performer of this generation”! Well, isn’t that Finn Balor? Those two can settle that on their own, but to Heyman, Styles is stylistically the “ultimate opponent” for Lesnar. Styles has the most momentum, second to Lesnar. Styles is a respectable world champion. But now Styles is the “ultimate underdog” because “this good ol’ boy from Georgia” is up against a “Georgia Bulldog eating carnivore” this Sunday! Lesnar shall prove he and he alone is “the number one champion in WWE, then, now and forever.” These are the odds Styles has to overcome. Fourth selling point: you wanna see a Rocky movie come to life? That’s Styles VS Lesnar. Fans chant for AJ Styles, and Heyman agrees. This year alone, Styles defeated John Cena, Shane McMahon and Jinder Mahal, which is why this is such a great story! But Fifth selling point: this in’t Rocky, this is Survivor Series. Styles won’t survive Suplex City, Styles won’t survive The Beast, Styles won’t survive the Conqueror, Styles won’t survive the F5. Heyman looks forward to telling the tale of Styles’ heroic effort as he puts on the show of his life only to be victimized by… BROCK, LESNAR. Is Heyman once again correct about his assessment? Or will Styles surprise us all in this once-in-a-lifetime match?
Six Man Tag: The Shield VS The Miz & The Bar w/ The Miztourage!
The match-up that was meant to be at TLC happens here and now, can the #HoundsofJustice keep the championship-studded “Hollywood Bar” from seizing opportunities tonight? The bell rings, Swiss Cyborg starts against Architect. They tie up, waistlock but standing switch, Rollins arm-wrenches and headlock takeover, headscissor counter form Cesaro, stand off. The two go again, Cesaro kicks low, gives a stiff European Uppercut, headlock but Rollins powers out, Cesaro shoulders him down. Cesaro runs, Rollins speeds it up, dropkick drops Cesaro. Tag to The Lunatic Fringe, they get running for a low lariat, a knee drop and an elbow drop. ONE, Ambrose puts Cesaro in a corner for stiff chops. Cesaro turns it around to give a chop of his own, Ambrose walks it off. Cesaro gives him another, Ambrose walks it off again to fire off more chops of his own. Corner to corner whip, reversed, up and over to a drop toehold, Indian Deathlock and a hook to the nose, Ambrose lets go at 4. Crossface punch, then Cesaro up, tag to Rollins. Rollins goes up, ax handle to Cesaro, then more chops. Tag to Ambrose, he goes up, a handle to the ribs. Cesaro fights back with a EuroUpper, tag to Sheamus. The Bar whips Ambrose, Bar Lariat knocks him down. Sheamus runs, low boot, then stomps. EuroUPper from the Celtic Gladiator, then body shots in the corner, cheap shot in the form of raking fingers in Ambrose’s face. Miz lets Ambrose go then tags in, the Intercontinental Champion keeps Ambrose isolated with a mudhole stomp. Then cheap boot grinds into the sides of Ambrose’s head. Miz stomps another mudhole, Sheamus tags in, Cesaro tags in, Super Saiyan mule kicks! Ambrose down for a cover, TWO. Tag to Sheamus, Sheamus goes up, ax handle for Ambrose. Sheamus gives Ambrose kenes to the ribs, elbows to the back, and then sits him down with a chinlock. Shift to keylock, but Ambrose gets to his feet as fans slowly rally. Ambrose fights back, Sheamus knees low, Ambrose gives a knee back. Tag to Rollins, dropkick to dropkick to clothesline from Reigns! Cesaro in, gets clothesline’d out. Double slingshot planchas! The Bar is down, Miz is alone with Roman.
Miz retreats to regroup with the Miztourage. The Shield flanks them, Bo goes into barriers! Axel has a neck brace, show mercy! No, not gonna. Miz runs away through the crowd! The Shield lets him go, they keep the ring, we go to break.
We return, so has Miz, he plants Rollins with a DDT! TWO, and Miz is furious. Miz thrwos Rollins out, Cesaro lurks but Ambrose intercepts! Sheamus goes after Ambrose, Miz goes out to get Rollins. Back into the ring, Rollins clobbers Miz with a clothesline. Both men are down, Sheamus is there to tag Miz. Sheamus keeps Rollins back, suplex reversed, TWO, Rollins baits and dumps Sheamus to the apron. Sheamus has a rough bump but he still goes after Rollins, stiff elbows from Rollins are responded to with a hotshot. Sheamus goes up, takes aim, flying shoulder SUPERKICK’d out of the sky! Fans rally, Sheamus tags Cesaro but Rollins tags in Roman! The Big Dog rallies on everyone, jumping lariat on Cesaro. Cesaro in a corner, he gets those close-range clotheslines. All ten connect, Roman runs but Cesaro boots. Roman boots back! Then, Samoan Drop! Roman has fans cheering, jeering and booing, Miz goes after Roman’s foot. Ambrose DIVES outta nowhere! Cesaro EuroUppers Roman, Sheamus knees him, pop-up EuroUpper! TWO and Cesaro is shocked. Sheamus is back, Cesaro reaches but Ambrose trips Sheamus up, Rollins DIVES! Roman SUPERMAN PUNCHES Cesaro! Fans know what’s next, as Roman lets out the battle cry. SPEA- EURO UPPER! In position, Neutral — back drop! Miz tags in, Roman swings but misses, SUPERMAN PUNCH intercepts Cesaro!
Miz gets Roman in a roll-up, TWO! Miz wants the Finale, gets a flying knee! Sheamus goes after Rollins, gets Dirty Deeds! Miz is vulnerable as the Shield surrounds him. Miz senses what’s coming, the fans do, too. SPEAR! But that’s not all, the fans and The Shield fire up, time for the Triple Bomb!! The Shield wins! The New Day better be ready, because The Shield is back!
Kane has a message.
“Even as someone as sick and depraved as I am can smile. All I have to do is remember what I did to Braun Strowman.” The sound of that garbage truck crushing his body, “a true symphony of horrors.” And tonight, Kane will show Strowman there are worse things than death, one of them being Kane himself. Can the Big Red Machine establish superiority this close to Survivor Series?
Kurt Angle returns to the ring.
He brings up the decisions a leader must make. This is the toughest decision he’s ever made as a GM. Jason Jordan was injured in his match against Bray Wyatt, so as the Raw GM, and Team Captain of Raw, he cannot allow Jason Jordan to compete. Jordan’s replacement — Don’t do this. Jason Jordan is headed to the ring. Don’t take this away from him! This is Survivor Series, the one time that it’s Raw VS SmackDown, and the one time he’d get to be side-by-side with his father. But you’re injured. Not by Sunday! But he won’t be 100%. Jordan insists he’ll be fine, because if Angle can compete injured, so can he. Jordan can be just like Angle. It’s not worth it. But it is! Jordan has always emulated Angle, from high school to college to the WWE. Angle was his hero, so being on the same show is a dream come true. But, to be honest, Angle knows he didn’t pick out of favoritism. Don’t take this away from Jordan. Jordan won’t get another chance like this. It’d be an honor to represent Raw, so don’t take that from him. He wants to compete alongside his father. Please reconsider.
“Give me a break, Kurt.” Stephanie McMahon can’t believe this is happening. Just make the announcement, now. Fans want it, too. As if that wasn’t enough, TRIPLE H is here!
He marches right down to the ring, takes the mic from Angle, and after a stern stare down, Triple H makes the choice for him. “The Fifth Member of Team Raw, is me!” Triple H, on Team Raw?! And JJ doesn’t want to accept it. Fans are thunderous, but Triple H tells Angle he’s gonna do it. PEDIGREE to Jordan!
The Game takes no prisoners, he is fighting for Raw’s domination over SmackDown and the decimation of SmackDown. Is this the advantage Raw needs to silence SmackDown’s uprising?
Finn Balor & Samoa Joe VS The Club!
This match is the definition of dysfunction: The Extraordinary Man has to team with The Destroyer, who he despises, in a match against The Good Brothers, who he was once teammates with. Can differences be put aside for the greater good of Team Raw? Well, not with how Joe shoves Finn to force him to start the match… The bell rings, The Machine Gun takes advantage by attacking Finn from behind, not really #GoodBrotherBehavior… Anderson keeps on Finn but Finn fires back, tags Joe, Joe gives jabs to Anderson. Tag to Finn, Finn arm wrenches but Anderson rocks Finn with a right. Whip reversed, sunset flip rolled through, dropkick. Anderson gets out of the ring, Joe runs in to clobber Gallows. The tension is strong as we go to break.
We return, Finn tags Joe and Joe goes after Anderson. Tag to Finn, Anderson is isolated. Finn chops, whips but is reversed, Finn dodges and gets to the apron, swing kick knocks Anderson away. Finn goes up, Gallows distracts, Anderson capitalizes. Finn tumbles to the mat, Gallows tags in, and he rocks Finn with a right hand. Gallows drags Finn up, Finn blocks and fires back rights of his own, but is pushed back to take a YAKUZA Kick, Too Sweet. Elbow drop after elbow drop, Gallows covers, TWO. Gallows drags Finn up and powers him to Club corner, tag to Anderson and Anderson rains down rights. Anderson brings Finn to a neutral corner and rocks him with a right hand, snapmare to chinlock. Anderson grinds and squeezes Finn, fans rally, Finn gets to his feet and fights back. Finn runs, but gets elbowed down, TWO. Back to the chinlock, fans rally again, Anderson switches to an armlock, Finn endures the wrenching. Anderson wrenches deeper, fans keep rallying, Finn feeds off it and gets to his feet. Finn reaches, reaches, but Anderson uses hair to pull Finn back. They brawl, stuff EuroUpper into a spinebuster, TWO! Anderson is frustrated, but The Club is in control as we go to break.
Back again, Finn fights out of Gallow’s chinlock, but is spun off into a boot, Too Sweet. Gallows steps to Joe, but that makes him miss the elbow drop on Finn. Finn takes an uppercut, gives a PELE! Both men down, Finn crawls, tag to Joe! Anderson tags in, but Joe rallies right over him, atomic drop to running boot, back senton! Forearm for Gallows, then the back elbow and PELE for Anderson in the corner. Anderson down, tag back to Finn to go up top. Gallows in but thrown out, so Finn gives him the Penalty Kick! Joe sits Anderson down! Joe DIVES on Gallows! Coup de Grace! Finn & Joe win! Joe leaves, not wanting to celebrate with his teammate, but if they can work like this at Survivor Series, can Raw win against SmackDown’s best?
Backstage interview with Alexa Bliss.
The Goddess of Raw will face the winner of Charlotte Flair VS Natalya tomorrow night. Any preferences? So, the Queen of Cats or the Queen of Dysfunction? Great. It’s not fair that Alexa has no time to prepare, but whatever. When she made the jump, the power shifted, and SmackDown truly became The B Show. Alexa DVR’s and forgets, but tomorrow is actually important. She might even show up to watch it live. But it doesn’t matter, the Goddess will reign supreme. Is her confidence justified? Or will she be horrified this Sunday?
Braun Strowman VS Kane!
Motivated by revenge and a desire to be top of the food chain, this main event is simply #MonsterVSMachine. The two lock eyes all the way from when Strowman marches down the ramp.
The two stand face to face in the ring, uppercut from Kane before the bell, Strowman boots him down. This isn’t even a match yet, Strowman just stomps on Kane. Kane gets out, Strowman pursues, Strowman gives Kane an uppercut. Headbutts and elbows, too, as they go around the ring, Strowman with the edge over Kane. Strowman gives body shots against the barriers, Kane crawls. Strowman keeps going, the referee tries to get this in the ring as an actual match but Strowman keeps punching Kane. Strowman grinds Kane against the barriers the clobbers him, making him feel like the trash Kane tried to turn him into. They fight in the timekeeper’s area, Strowman whips Kane but is reversed, Strowman goes into steel steps instead! Kane decides to up the ante, he brings out a table!
The fans are loving it already as Kane sets the table up. Kane stalks over to Strowman, kicking the Monster while he’s down. Kane brings out a chair, SMACK across Strowman’s back. And SMACK again, but Strowman stays standing. Choke grip and Kane brings Strowman over but Strowman pries his way out and then SMACKS Kane with that chair! Strowman is again stalking Kane as he SMACKS Kane a second time. Strowman sees that table and brings Kane over. A stiff uppercut rocks Kane again, Strowman puts him on the apron then climbs up the other side. Strowman climbs up, drags Kane up to join him, aimed at that table! Kane resists, punches Strowman, Strowman teeters but saves himself. Headbutt sends Kane into the ring, Strowman adjusts, Kane grabs him by the throat. Strowman breaks out, flying double ax handles! Strowman scoops Kane onto his shoulder, spiraling powerslam goes through the floor!!
The fans are losing their minds as these two behemoths disappear into the void under the ring, what is the condition of either monstrous man?!
My Thoughts:
Raw finally gets their go-homes to feel important again. Bayley wins a triple threat to be the Fifth Woman, though it seemed touch-and-go as there was a chance it could have fed into a long-game turn for the Huggable One. But it just works better with the WWE’s Four Horsewomen all in the match, at least for now. Enzo & Gulak win against their rivals tonight but that adds into the math of the Faces likely winning blow-offs in the coming week, Tozawa on 205 Live and Kalisto at Survivor Series.
And then there was the real big stuff. Stephanie wants Raw to not just win but dominate, so she adds on to that ultimatum from last week by questioning Angle’s decisions. The Shield, while maintaining their tension with the Billionaire Princess, promises results when they get payback on The New Day, the dream match we’ve all wanted. And tonight’s Six Man Tag against Miz, Sheamus & Cesaro was great, the fans were into it, even with Roman participating. Angle ends up putting all of Raw’s Men’s Team in action with mixed but important results. Jason Jordan and Bray Wyatt had a solid match, but this was a great way to swap out Jordan for a huge surprise in Triple H while planting seeds for several things, such as Jordan turning Heel because fans actually liked what happened to him, as well as Angle VS Triple H at Wrestlemania for what Triple H did to Jordan. Finn and Joe manage to keep dysfunction out of the way bell to bell for a solid match, but I’m a bit disappointed there wasn’t a moment of hesitation between Finn, Gallows and Anderson. Maybe in a 5V5 elimination match, the dysfunction might come into play. And then hot damn that ending. Starting as late as they did, Strowman in a main event match with another giant, it was all a formula for breaking something to close out the show with shock and awe, I just didn’t expect them to break through the ring. Even though Team Raw now has Angle and Triple H, Strowman is the key to Raw’s victory.
My Score: 8.5/10
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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
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Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
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One step away from the Cup!
David Finlay awaits in the New Japan Cup finals, and will either face Shota Umino or Shingo Takagi! Can the Roughneck slay the Rampaging Dragon?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata; Kojima & Nagata win.
- 10 Man Tag: The United Empire VS El Phantasmo, Jado, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Daiki Nagai; The United Empire wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hontai VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- Six Man Tag: Just4Guys VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
- Six Man Tag: Bullet Club War Dogs VS House of Torture; Double Count-Out Draw.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
- 2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi; Shota wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture!
Yota Tsuji was cheated out of the New Japan Cup by the King of Darkness, but that’s no surprise. However, that means Evil has a golden ticket to the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Will Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi help Darkness Fall? Or can Testuya Naito & Bushi help Yota keep everything tranquilo?
Even now, Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire. Eventually, the pants are put aside, and Naito is wearing the new Tendedero merch shirt. LIJ fist bumps, but The House attacks! The fans boo but the bell rings so this is on record. Evil has Yota on the outside and he CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yujiro CHOKES Naito, Dick bumps Bushi off buckles, and then Yujiro TOSSES Naito! Dick CHOKES Bushi now, then he and Yujiro double whip. Dick runs corner to corner but Bushi dodges! Bushi BOOTS Yujiro, then headlocks Dick! BULLDOG DROPKICK COMBO! The fans fire up and Bushi hurries to tag Naito.
Naito stomps Yujiro, Bushi joins in, and Evil protests. Evil runs in, but into an atomic drop! Evil staggers away to a corner, Naito & Bushi whip Yujiro into him! Evil falls, Naito kicks Yujiro, and holds him in place, for the NECKBREAKER! Naito poses and the fans cheer. Naito then covers, TWO! Tokyo Pimp is tougher than that, but Naito drags Yujiro up to cravat. Yujiro endures the neck wrench, Naito CLUBS him then whips. Yujiro reverses and Dick gets a cheap shot in! Yujiro runs, but Bushi gets as cheap shot in! Naito runs but Evil trips him up! Dick BLASTS Bushi, Yujiro BLASTS Yota, and Evil drags Naito out.
Evil RAMS Naito into the timekeeper! Abe-san again suffers at the hands of Evil! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Evil drags Naito up. Evil pushes Naito into the ring, then he and Dick loosen the blue buckle pad. Yujiro covers Naito, TWO! Yujiro drags Naito up while the fans rally, but Yujiro snapmares to drop a leg! And he drops another leg! And another leg! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer, but Yujiro taunts LIJ. Yujiro drags Naito up, bumps him off Evil’s boot, and then he tags Evil in. Evil CLAWS Naito’s eyes then stomps away on the legs! The ref reprimands, Evil drags Naito out, and then Evil stomps the leg more!
Evil drops an ELBOW on the knee! Evil pulls on the leg in a toehold, then traps the leg in a leg scissors! Yota runs in and stomps Evil, but Dick TOSSES Yota back out! Evil pulls on the leg, almost has an ankle lock, but Naito has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go, and he tags in Dick. They split the wishbone on Naito! The fans rally for Naito but Dick throws down fists. Cover, TWO! Naito is tougher than that and the fans continue to rally. Dick is annoyed, but Naito fires body shots on him! Dick CLAWS Naito’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Dick whips. Naito reverses and ELBOWS Dick, to then arm-drag him!
Naito dropkicks Dick’s legs out! The fans rally, Dick and Naito crawl, hot tag to Yota! The fans fire up as Yota CLOBBERS Dick, then BLASTS the House! But Dick CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yota runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota runs corner to corner, to SPLASH! Yota scoops and SLAMS to then run and BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he paces around. Yota drags Dick up, suplexes, but Dick fights that! Dick wrenches, hammerlocks, headlocks, then punches Yota! Tag to Evil and they mug Yota! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Dick & Evil stand Yota up.
Dick & Evil double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Yota down! Cover, TWO! Yota is tougher than that and the fans rally up, but Evil tells them to shut up. Evil drags Yota to his feet, talks more trash on the fans, but the fans give that back. Evil “puts one out” on Yota, then fireman’s carries! Yota slips free to ROCK Evil! The fans fire up with Yota, he runs, but Evil goes the other way! But Yota catches the pounce into a clinch! BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and STOMP! The Gene Combination hits and the fans fire up! Evil sputters, Yota rolls and tags in Bushi. Bushi runs up to dropkick Evil’s legs out! Then Bushi BLASTS Dick!
Yujiro kicks Bushi, whips him to ropes, but Bushi reverses to dropkick the legs out! Evil is back but Bushi DECKS him! Bushi then builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Evil is sent into railing! The fans fire up, Bushi puts Evil back in, and Bushi aims from a corner. Bushi runs corner to corner to ELBOW Evil, then he puts a leg in the ropes to DROPKICK it! Bushi brings Evil out and has the leg, but Evil pulls on the mask! Bushi breaks free, kicks, but Evil blocks, hands it to the ref, and mule kicks Bushi down! Dick & Yujiro BLAST Naito & Yota off the apron! They then double whip Bushi to a corner! Dick ELBOWS Bushi! Yujiro BOOTS! Evil LARIATS!
Dick goes up, Evil & Yujiro hold Bushi open, and the ref reprimands! No one to distract him this time! But then Evil just grabs the ref and turns him around! The ref can’t get free, Bushi suffers the DICK CHOP! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives and the fans fire up! Evil is stunned but he brushes that off. Evil paces around Bushi, slashes his throat, and vows to end this! Evil drags Bushi up, spins him, EVERY- NO, Naito gets in to kick Evil down! Yujiro is in, Evil distracts the ref, and Yujiro blocks a kick to LOW BLOW Naito!! The fans boo, but Yota runs up! Yujiro blocks his kick, and trips him up, to FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW!!
The fans boo but Evil still holds onto the ref. Bushi stands, Evil shoves the ref at him! Bushi pushes the ref aside, and he blocks the low blow! But Dick LOW BLOWS from the other side! Evil & Dick get Bushi up, for MAGIC KILLER!! Cover, the House of Torture wins!!
Winners: House of Torture, by pinfall
But they’re not done, as they beat up on Yota now! They snatch the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship from him, and Evil holds it up. The fans boo, but Evil takes aim at Yota! But Yota LOW BLOWS Dick! And he dodges Evil’s attack to then pop-up LOW BLOW! Yujiro has his pimp cane! Yota blocks that, takes the cane, and LOW BLOWS Yujiro with it! The fans fire up behind Yota as he takes his belt back. Yota holds it up to show that not everything is Evil! Will the Gene Blast stop the House of Torture from having more gold?
2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi!
The Paradigm Shift has certainly taken a turn after The Roughneck gave up his fiery red locks. Shota has changed up his style in the ring to match his new look, but will this Second Chapter lead to the Cup? Or will this young hero fail to slay the Rampaging Dragon?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. They’re strongly behind “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” but Shota doesn’t let that bother him. Shota and Takagi slowly step forward, feel things out, then clinch. Takagi waistlocks but Shota turns around to facelock. Takagi wrenches out and has a wristlock, but Shota rolls, wrenches back, and then hammerlocks. Takagi reaches back to headlock and he hits the takeover, but Shota headscissors. Takagi kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset and feel things out again. They knuckle lock, then go shoulder to shoulder in a Test of Strength! Shota has the leverage but Takagi powers up.
Takagi breaks a grip, wrenches, headlocks, and he grinds the hold. The fans rally up while Shota endures. Shota pries at the headlock but Takagi keeps it on tight. Shota powers up and out the back, then headlocks in return. Takagi endures the grind now, and he powers up and out! They RAM shoulders, Shota keeps going to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds to RAM Shota, but Shota stands his ground! Shota fires a forearm, Takagi fires a DOUBLE CHOP! Takagi whips, but Shota reverses to scoop, HOTSHOT, and then he RUNS Takagi over! The fans fire up while Takagi bails out. Shota waits on Takagi, and the fans rally up again.
Takagi takes his time stepping back inside, and he resets with Shota. They knuckle lock, but then Shota shoots in and trips Takagi up. Shota stomps that leg, then he SMASHES the knee off the mat! Shota stalks Takagi to a corner, then puts the leg around ropes. The fans rally, Red Shoes reprimands, but Shota pulls on the leg. Shota then brings Takagi out to trip him, and Shota stomps away on the leg. Shota drops an ELBOW on the knee, and pulls on the toehold! Takagi endures, works his way back, and has the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go, but then he drops a knee on the knee! Red Shoes reprimands but Shota stomps Takagi’s leg again.
Shota drags Takagi up, facelocks and turns him, but Takagi elbows free! Takagi runs in at the corner but Shota BOOTS him! Shota runs, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint and DDT! Shota staggers around while the fans fire up, and Takagi LARIATS Shota up and out! Shota staggers into railing then slumps down. The fans rally behind Takagi while he shakes out the bad leg. Takagi goes out to fetch Shota, and he drags Shota back up. Takagi RAMS Shota into the apron, then RAMS him in again! Takagi whips Shota hard into railing and Shota slumps down! Red Shoes wants Takagi to get this back in the ring, so Takagi rolls in.
The fans applaud and the ring count begins. Shota is still down at 5 of 20, sits up at 8, and he rises up at 10. Shota stands at 13 and hobbles his way over. Shota rolls in at 15, but Takagi stands on him! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi marches in place before he steps off. Takagi KICKS Shota in the back, then drags him up to whip. Takagi KNEES Shota at the ropes, then runs to CLOBBER Shota! The fans fire up and Takagi flexes. Takagi drags Shota up, reels him in and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Shota is tougher than that, but Takagi looks to the camera. Then he wags his finger, it’s not time yet.
Takagi clamps onto Shota with a chinlock and squeezes tight. Shota endures, so Takagi sits him up and shifts around to also trap an arm. Shota endures being twisted and turned, and he kicks his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud, and Takagi lets go, only to BELL CLAP! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi brings Shota around to SENTON! The fans cheer more and Takagi stands back up. Takagi looms over Shota, kicks him around, but Shota just gets mad. Shota glares at Takagi so Takagi eggs him on. Shota stands to fire a forearm! Takagi shakes his head, so Shota fires another forearm! And another!
Takagi wobbles a bit and Shota fires a flurry! But then Takagi blocks one to wrench and knuckle lock! Takagi goes up the ropes!? The fans fire up, but Shota breaks free! Takagi gives thumbs down, and the fans boo, but Takagi HIP ATTACKS Shota down! Takagi rallies the fans behind him, then reels Shota in. But Shota BACKDROPS free! Takagi gets up fast, but Shota dropkicks the legs! Shota turns Takagi for a NECKBREAKER! Shota snarls, goes to a corner, and the fans rally again. Takagi stands, Shota runs corner to corner and UPPERCUTS! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Shota stays clam.
Shota drags Takagi up and reels him in, but Takagi fights the lift! Shota CLUBS Takagi, whips him to a corner, then runs up, but he blocks a boot! KNEE JAMMER, and then a SHIN BREAKER! Shota turns Takagi over for the STF! The fans rally as Takagi endures and Shota pulls on the hold! Takagi reaches out, crawls his way over, and fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Shota lets go in frustration. Shota stands Takagi back up to reel him back in, but again Takagi fights the lift! Shota KNEES Takagi again and again, then tries again. Takagi still fights that lift! Takagi CLUBS at the legs, but Shota CLUBS away on Takagi’s back!
Shota UPPERCUTS into a spin! Takagi suplexes, Shota fights it, so Takagi hits a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Shota crawls away to a corner while Takagi slaps his leg into working. Takagi watches Shota stand, then he runs in. Takagi blocks a boot, CLUBS the leg, and he LARIATS Shota down! The fans fire up and Takagi gets them even more fired up. Takagi stands Shota up, but Shota fires forearms! Takagi SHOVES Shota down, but Shota is right up to fire more forearms! Takagi THROWS Shota down, but Shota’s right up to fire forearms! Takagi YUKON LARIATS outta nowhere!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi rises and grabs at Shota but Shota shakes him off. Takagi still tries to stand Shota up but Shota kicks him now! So Takagi short arm LARIATS Shota down! And he short arm LARIATS again! Then a scoop for a SLAM, and Takagi goes up! YUKON ELBOW DROP! Takagi hauls Shota up, and hits a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Into an STF! Takagi gives Shota a taste of his own medicine! Shota endures, the fans rally, and then Takagi shifts to Just Facelock! Shota still endures, then fights around and reaches out. Takagi shifts to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Shota still endures!
Shota reaches out but Takagi pulls on that arm! The fans rally, Takagi puts as much as he can into the Fujiwara, but Shota fights and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud while Takagi lets off, and he throws some elbows down for good measure. Takagi then brings Shota up, puts him on the top rope, and he fires ridge hand chops! Takagi climbs up, goes to the very top, and hits a SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans fire up and Shota writhes! Takagi covers, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again. Takagi finally says, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has finally come! They then join in with “OI! OI! OI!”
Takagi stalks Shota, brings him up, and pump handles, only for Shota to fight the lift! Shota slips free, half nelsons, but Takagi elbows free! Shota UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Shota winds up and runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi keeps moving, Shota gets around to SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Takagi’s right up to SNAP GERMAN! Shota’s right up, ducks a lariat, and he SNAP GERMANS! Shota roars, runs up, but into a PUMPING BOMBER!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Takagi and Shota go to opposite ends, and the fans rally up.
Takagi goes to a corner, drags himself up, and Shota is in the other corner. The fans rally harder, and they both run in! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, but neither man falls! So they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Both stay up, Takagi SWATS a lariat to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Then he whips Shota, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! Takagi’s right up!? But Shota LARIATS him back down!! Shota also falls and the fans rally back up! Takagi and Shota stir, and Shota crawls his way over to Takagi. The “SHOTA! SHOTA!” fans are showing up now, and he reels Takagi in, for a POWERBOMB!! High stack cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up again and Shota fires himself up. Takagi slowly rises up, Shota runs, but Takagi swats the lariat! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- SHOTGUN! But Takagi’s up to PUMPING BOMBER again!! Both men are down again as we hit 20 minutes! Takagi pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and Takagi crawls over to Shota. The dueling is starting to sound even, and Takagi brings Shota up. Shota fires boxing elbows, then a ROLLING- NO, Takagi catches him! Pump handle, MADE IN JAPAN! Cover, TWO!! Takagi shouts out Milano Collection AT with how he tucks Shota’s arms! TAKAGI DRIVER 98!! Cover, TWO!!
Shota survives but Takagi keeps moving, SLIDING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Takagi gets going again, and he PUMPING BOMBERS!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Shota survives and shocks everyone! Takagi thinks on what he must do now, and he brings Shota back up. The fans rally, Takagi pump handles and torture racks! But Shota kicks and flails to get free! Shota LARIATS, but Takagi stays up while Shota drops to his knees! Takagi shakes his head, brings Shota up again, but Shota ENZIGIRIS! Takagi goes to a corner, Shota fires forearms and an elbow, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Takagi stays up to ELBOW! JAB! And whip!
Shota reverses, and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up, Shota brings Takagi to his feet for the fisherman and SECOND- NO, Takagi fights that to scoop Shota! LANDSLIDE DRIVER!! The fans rally up again and Takagi watches Shota rise. Takagi runs, Shota dodges, but then Takagi dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS!! Shota falls on the cover, ONE?!?! Shota gest going again, SHOTA BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!!! Takagi will not be beat at his own game and the fans fire up! Shota goes to a corner as the fans are dueling, and Shota BUSAIKU KNEES! Then he hooks the leg, SECOND CHAPTER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
The Rampaging Dragon has been slain! Perhaps if this was the Shota from before New Beginning, the story would be different, but the Second Chapter writes Takagi out of the tournament. Will Takagi battle his way to the top from a different path?
As for Shota, he decides not to say anything, and exits the ring. But wait! David Finlay & Gedo make their way out here! Gedo grabs the mic to ask, “Oi, kid, where’d you go? Get back out yere, you punk! Get back here, kid!” Shota responds to that taunting and makes his way back out. Gedo tells Shota, “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but do you realize who you’re facing in the finals? The Savage King, David Finlay! He’s crazy strong, kid! Tougher than you can imagine! Whatever it took for you tog et here, in an instant, it’ll be destroyed! Get over here, ya punk! Get over here! I wanna know how much you want this!”
“You want to come in here, say your piece? Just try!” Gedo drops the mic for Shota, and then Shota stares Finlay down. Shota picks the mic up, and he tells Finlay, “I promise I will beat you.” Finlay likes the sound of that. These two stare down, and we are just days away from them battling for it all! Who will be the 2025 New Japan Cup Champion, and the man aimed squarely at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?
My Thoughts:
Another great night for New Japan Cup, but with as much filler as yesterday’s event. The War Dogs sure have their hands in many things, as does the House of Torture with how Evil is building to a title match with Yota Tsuji. The War Dogs and House of Torture going to Double Count-Out Draw again was a good move, it keeps both sides equal as we wait for them to do whatever huge faction warfare match they’re planning. As for Yota VS Evil, hard to say at this point as House of Torture won the match but then Yota stood tall after that scrap. It’d be really weird if Evil gets that title off Yota just to be a transitional champion to Finlay so that Finlay can get “his” title back.
Shota VS Shingo was a great match, but the crowd really took a second to get into it. There still seems to be a number of fans who are uncertain on Shota so they didn’t feel like cheering right away, but Shota got them on his side as things heated up. Shota winning makes sense, he’s got this new attitude and so that’s part of the push. I hope he changes his aesthetic enough once we get to the finals on March 20th. Take those all white paints, airbrush something on them that helps represent what “Second Chapter” Shota is about, or even just go with a solid color like red or blue to indicate the change visually. As for who wins, that is anyone’s guess, as Finlay will have to circle back to the Bullet Club Civil War at some point.
My Score: 8.8/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Adrenaline in Brussels, every thought out of control!
Cody Rhodes has called him out and now it’s the moment of truth: Will John Cena return to Monday Night Raw live from Brussels, Belgium?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser; Penta wins.
- Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile; Dakota wins.
- Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller; Jey wins.
- The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee; Rey & Lee win.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor; Bron wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
JOHN CENA IS HERE!
Brussels erupts with booing as the traitorous GOAT makes his way out. He’s wearing the custom Belgium merchandise, but not even that is enough to appease the fans, and they still sing, “John Cena SUCKS~!” Cena grabs the mic and paces around while the fans boo and give thumbs down. The dueling does begin, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” and Cena just stands there to let it play out. Then he drops the mic and turns to leave, but that makes everyone boo! Cena picks up the mic, fans chant, “You Sold Out!” so Cena drops the mic again. The fans boo, so Cena picks the mic back up.
Cena finally speaks, “When someone is properly grounded in life… They shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval.” Fans chant and sing at Cena some more, but Cena says they are making this so easy for him. “For 25 years, I’ve been the victim, okay? I have been the victim of an abusive relationship. No, no, no, you have lost your time to talk!” The fans say, “You Sold Out!” Cena says fine, take the floor. But what do they do with it? They just abuse and bully him into being their damn puppet, and expect him to do it with a smile on his face! NO MORE! The fans tell Cena off, and he lets them say it. “So very classy. Thank you.”
“Look, I am not a ‘baby face,’ I am not a ‘heel.’ I’m a human being. And each and every one of you has been AWFUL to me! Go ahead, go ahead! You’ve been awful!” The fans boo more, but Cena says it has been the same damn noise for 25 YEARS! When he first got here, the fans let him know really loud that they hated him. Moments of embarrassment and shame, they let him know he wasn’t worthy of them. So he changed himself, and it worked for a second, but then it wasn’t enough! So what’d he do? He worked hard like always, he started to win and win and win and win, and win and win and win and win!
But oh, he won a lot, and fans hated it! It wasn’t enough! So what’d Cena do? He spent 10 YEARS giving away everything he possibly could, and it still wasn’t enough! The fans tell Cena to STFU, but he just smirks and shakes his head. In his final moments, what’s the only thing he can do? He can walk away. Wow, and now you cheer. But he announced his retirement in a move no one has done before. He really is walking away at the end of this year. He tried one last time to get along with the fans. He tried one last time to do something nice, but they ruined it! Just like they ruin everything!
Because just like right here tonight, it was great for two seconds, and then it wasn’t enough! The fans sing “Hey Hey Hey~, Goodbye~!” Cena says, “Each one of these idiots is proving my point with every breath. My point is, no matter what I do, it is never enough, and you should all be ashamed of yourselves. All you ever do is take. You take, you take, and you take! And you only care about yourselves! I put my values on the line to make a very important choice in my life, and all you could think is, ‘What do we get?’ My story changed! ‘What do we get? John Cena’s coming to my town! What do we get? This is trending! What do we get?’
“Not one of you SOBs asked me how I feel. No one! It’s just ‘What do we get? What do we get?’ YOU GET NOTHING! You get what you have earned, and what you have earned is NOTHING! You don’t get a new look, because you dress like me, I don’t dress like you idiots! You don’t get new music! That is MY voice on that song, and your time is finally up! And my time is finally now! The only thing you get is to take a long look in the mirror to see how awful each and every one of you has been for 25 years to me!” The fans still boo, and even shift to, “We Want Cody!” Oh, they want Cody? OH~, of course! The brand new, shiny toy! Because they’re about to put this one out to pasture.
Like he said, they’re just proving his point that they’re awful people. And that’s every single person here! No one is safe, no one can hide, especially those he can pick out in the crowd. This guy, that guy in the front row, and that other guy. Yes, he sees them. The “Let’s Go Cena” people. They’re the ones who support Cena. The dueling begins again, and Cena says, “You hear that, world? The Cena Sucks Jagoffs, they have already proved themselves awful people. I’m about ot tell you why the Let’s Go Cena people are just as awful. You claim to support me? What have you ever done? What have you, you, you, what have you ever done to support me, huh?!
“What have you ever done for me? All you ever do is steal from me! You steal! You steal my personal moments! You steal my time! You have made me your freakin’ toy! I am an object to you! You have made me the butt to a stupid ‘invisible’ joke for 15 years, and you still think it’s funny! It is NOT funny! It is pathetic! You are pathetic.” Fans tell Cena off again, but Cena says they don’t wanna hear this, huh? Not ready to hear this? Not ready to lean into the uncomfortable conversation. The truth is, the fans don’t wear his merch to support him. They wear it to feel good. They wear words like Hustle, Loyalty, Respect, but Cena LIVES them.
The fans think they can buy the words “Never Give Up?” Cena is the definition of perseverance, and everyone here knows it! “You do not support me. What you do is you use me as an excuse for your pathetic failure of a life. Because all you’ve ever done there for 25 years is sit on your ass and watch me be great! NO MORE! This, everybody, including that one kid right there, is a toxic, dysfunctional relationship! Oh, you don’t wanna hear it, huh? It’s too tough for ya? Well listen to this. I’m breaking up with you. I’m done. I’m breaking up with every single person. Whether you like me or you don’t, you’re dumped.
“I don’t need you anymore. I don’t care about you. And you don’t matter to me. And here’s the thing. There’s no noise you can make, there is nothing you can do, because you know I’m right and you know you are wrong!” WAIT! Here comes Cody! Brussels erupts with cheers this time, and they sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, continues down the ramp and high-fives fans, and Cena just waits on Cody. We get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and more pyro as Cody throws off his jacket and steps into the ring with Cena. Cody raises the Undisputed WWE Championship, the fans cheer, and then Cody gets himself a mic.
The fans cheer as the song dies down and Cena scowls. The fans sing, “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~! CODY, CODY RHOOODES~!” Cody lifts the belt again and the fans cheer more. Cody then finally says, “I think everybody was willing to hear you out, even myself. If I understood correctly from what you just said, they’ve given you their worst. Sure, they might’ve given you their worst. But they’ve also given you their best for 25 years, and they did that because you were special. They did that because you were special. They did that because you could take it. They did that because you could carry it!” The fans cheer that.
Cena says, “Look, kid,” but Cody tells him, “ENOUGH! And it’s certainly not ‘kid.’ It’s champion!” The fans cheer that, too! And Cody wants to ask Cena something. “Who the hell are you? Where’s the guy on this shirt? Right here! Even after what you did, I was excited at the prospect of going week to week, face to face, with John Cena. And instead, I got this. Well this better not show up at WrestleMania. Because if it does, I run it over, I run it out, because I already took its best shot and it wasn’t good enough, I retire it early! So go find John Cena, because I wanna wrestle him at WrestleMania 41, not this whiny b*tch!”
Cody drops his mic and leaves the ring, the fans all fired up! Cody gives Cena one last look before he makes his way back up the ramp. The fans sing for “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~!” again, and he again lifts the belt. Cena is still in the ring, so the fans boo. Cena drops his mic, exits the ring, and the fans again sing “Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye~!” Cena gives them one last look before he goes backstage. Will this Cena be all we get from now until the end of 2025?
No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser!
After going back and forth, and even adding Pete Dunne to the mix, the Man with No Fear and the Impeccable German have it out with nothing holding them back! Will Penta show Kaiser what #CeroMiedo looks like when it is fully unleashed? Or will Kaiser say NEIN to another loss?
Raw returns and Penta makes his entrance. The fans fire up with the pyro, and “CERO! MIEDO!” The fans even sing, “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CEROOO~, MIEDOOO~!” The bell rings and Penta eggs Kaiser on. Kaiser is annoyed with the fans, but then he and Penta start throwing hands! Kaiser gets the edge, but Penta avoids the lariat to CHOP Kaiser down! Kaiser staggers, Penta runs up, and Penta LARIATS Kaiser up and out! Then Penta slides out, runs up, but Kaiser THROWS him into the timekeeper’s area! The fans boo, but Penta gets up on the barriers! Penta tightrope walks his way to FLYING RANA Kaiser into the apron!
The fans fire up with Penta and he pursues, but Kaiser bails out. Kaiser grabs chairs, puts them in the ring, but Penta runs up to DROPKICK Kaiser down! Penta then builds speed and he FLIES! Direct hit, the fans fire up, but then the fans cheer as Penta clears the commentary desk! Penta puts Kaiser up there, CHOPS him, but Kaiser CHOPS back! They CHOPS go back and forth, the fans cheer and boo. Penta fires off a flurry, but Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s face! Then KAISER ROLL on the desk! The fans lose their minds while Kaiser stands tall, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Kaiser has Penta up top, and he CLAWS at the mask! But Penta fights Kaiser off! The fans fire up as Kaiser staggers, and Penta CROSSBODIES! Kaiser staggers up, Penta dodges and KICKS Kaiser in the leg! Then SLING-DOG! Kaiser flounders to a corner, Penta whips, but Kaiser reverses. Penta goes up and over to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Penta rises. Penta aims from a corner, calls his shot, and runs up, but into a GAMANGIRI! Kaiser fireman’s carries, KAISER ROLL again, then cover! TWO! Penta survives, but Kaiser kicks him out of the ring. Kaiser UPPERCUTS Penta, then RAMS him into steel steps!
The fans boo, Kaiser leaves Penta behind, but only to go out the side. Kaiser gets running, wanting his favorite shot! But Penta BACKDROPS Kaiser onto the desk! The fans are thunderous as Kaiser writhes! Penta has the fans singing again, and he brings Kaiser off the desk to put in the ring. Penta stalks Kaiser, but Kaiser SMACKS Penta! The fans chant, “We Want Tables!” but Penta CHOPS! Kaiser fires a haymaker, Penta fires back, and the two stand. Kaiser ROCKS Penta, but Penta ROCKS Kaiser! The haymakers keep going, then Penta trades CHOPS with Kaiser’s haymakers! Penta fires a flurry of forearms, then says “CERO! MIEDO!”
Penta runs, tilt-o-whirls, but Kaiser SLAMS him down! BLINDSIDE SLIDING FOREARM! Cover, TWO! Penta survives but Kaiser stalks him to ropes. Kaiser tells Penta to listen to him! Penta will fear KAISER! Kaiser will teach Penta what it means to fear! Kaiser CLUBS Penta down, the fans sing for Penta, but Kaiser grabs a chair. Kaiser dares Penta to get up, and then he SMACKS Penta on the back! Penta scrambles to a corner but Kaiser grins as he storms up. Kaiser CHOKES Penta with the chair and shouts, “Are you scared? Say it!” Kaiser wants Penta to admit he’s afraid, but Penta just powers up! The fans fire up as Penta pushes Kaiser back! “CERO! MIEDO!”
Kaiser drags Penta up, clinches, but Penta WRINGS that arm, then has the other! THE SACRIFICE!! Kaiser writhes, clutches that elbow, but now Penta has the chair! Penta winds up but Kaiser wants mercy! Penta shakes his head but Kaiser says he gives up?! Kaiser says Penta wins? Penta isn’t sure about that, but then Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s eyes! Kaiser has th echair, but Penta SUPERKICKS the chair into Kaiser! Then he SMACKS Kaiser! Then he gives the chair back to SUPERKICK it into Kaiser again! Penta goes up, Kaiser staggers around, and Penta reels him in, FLYING MEXICAN DESTROYER on the chair!!
The fans are losing their minds, but Penta then hits a PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Brussels gives this brutal opener a standing ovation! Will Penta now leave Kaiser in the past to go for bigger and better prizes? Cathy Kelley interviews Penta on the ramp and congratulates him on the win. That was a definitive end to that match, and we’re on the Road to WrestleMania. What is next for Penta? Penta says first off all, THANK YOU, BRUSSELS! They are amazing, he loves ’em! But the Penta New Era is here! It is alive in Europe, but also in every continent in the world! What is next for Penta? Listen: THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Penta wants to tell everyone that he doesn’t care what he has to do, he WILL be champion! Because he is Penta, and he has CERO MIEDO! That very title is on the line later tonight, will Penta be aimed at Bron Breakker or Finn Balor for WrestleMania?
Dakota Kai heads to gorilla.
Iyo Sky gives her a pep talk before her match, but uh, is that Dominik Mysterio talking with Karrion Kross? Is Dom still trying to recruit new members? Or is Mr. Doomsday giving Dom some special advice of his own?
The Judgment Day is in the clubhouse.
Carlito is adding to the great graffiti backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez talk about how Dominik should’ve taken the match with Bron Breakker instead of- Finn walks in! Liv & Raquel say hey, and they wish him luck tonight. Finn thanks them for that, and he wishes them the best of luck in their matches. Jade Cargill is gonna be another stop on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour! And Raquel, by this time next week, they’ll both be Intercontinental- Oh, Dom walks in! Hey, bud! The man of the moment! Finn knows Dom knows, but Finn wants to say from the bottom of his heart, thanks for getting him the title match.
Dom says of course! Whatever it takes to get Judgment Day back on top. But here’s the thing… Dom was talking with some people, and he has an idea. Oh, an idea? Is Dom sure he should say this? Dom says it’ll be okay. Ever since JD McDonagh went down, they kinda lost some muscle around here. So Dom found the perfect person to add to the Judgment Day! Finn is annoyed and asks who. Penta! Finn wants to get something straight. After all this time, and after all they’ve been through, Dom goes behind Finn’s back, has all these conversations with all these people, and the one he lands on… is offering a spot to Penta, the guy who just declared HE wants Finn’s Intercontinental title?!
Finn seethes, and tells Dom he’s just a snake! Finn storms out, the mood ruined. Dom didn’t know Penta was gonna go for the title. Carlito says Dom doesn’t watch the product, huh? Well, Dom stepped in it this time. Is there some way he can he make it up to Finn? Or should he just give up on adding members?
Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile w/ Team American Made!
Speaking of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, both #CobraKai and the Diamond Pitbull have fought for and failed to take that title from Lyra Valkyria. With Raquel Rodriguez facing Lyra next, who will prove they’re worthy of the shot after that?
What a surprise to see Chad Gable showing up. He apologizes for being late, and then he joins The Creed Brothers in Ivy’s corner. The bell rings, and Dakota fires off fast hands on Ivy! The ref reprimands as they’re in the corner, but Dakota backs off. Dakota runs up, but Ivy stops the flying-mare! Ivy throws Dakota away, Dakota keeps moving, but Ivy LARIATS! Ivy is already frustrated and she rains down fists! The fans boo, Ivy tells them to shut up, and Maggle taunts Gable about his lucha mask that he may or may not have. Ivy stands Dakota up, whips her to a corner, and Dakota bounces off buckles into Ivy’s GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!
Ivy is annoyed but Gable coaches her on. Ivy drags Dakota up, reels her in, and she suplexes. Dakota cradle counters! TWO, and Dakota goes to a corner. Ivy runs up, Dakota ELBOWS her away, then Dakota BOOTS her! Dakota runs to DISCUS LARIAT! And then LARIAT again! And DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Dakota while Ivy ends up in a corner. Dakota runs in to BOOT WASH! Dakota then puts Ivy through ropes, and JUMP- NO, Ivy avoids the stomp! But Dakota GAMANGIRIS! The fans fire up again and Dakota builds speed, but Gable is on the apron! The fans boo, Ivy storms in, and Ivy scoops Dakota for a SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Dakota survives, and here comes the LWO! They go after The Creeds for what Gable or not Gable did! Gable runs but gets flanked, so he goes into the crowd! The fans fire up as Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee chase after Gable! Ivy is shocked, but that lets Dakota run Around the World! BOOT! And then a fireman’s carry, GO TO KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall
American Made falls apart in Brussels, and now #CapKota is in pole position for the title chase! Will she get one more shot on goal with Lyra? Or will she and her old rival, Raquel, meet again?
Iyo Sky heads to the ring!
The fans fire up as the Evil Genius, the NEW Women’s World Champion, is ready to sign on the dotted line! She and Bianca Belair are going to put pen to paper, but will that be all that happens? We find out after the break.
Raw returns as Bianca is in the ring, and Adam Pearce has joined them. Pearce welcomes everyone in French, and says it is now time to make this world title match official between challenger Bianca Belair, and champion Iyo Sky! The fans cheer that! Pearce says they know how this works. Two signatures makes this official, so the floor is theirs. Iyo and Bianca both take their seats, and Iyo picks up her mic first. “Bianca, you will not disrespect me again. Rhea will not disrespect me again. No one will disrespect me again. Because I am the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer that! “And after WrestleMania, I will still be the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer even more for that!
Iyo signs her part, the fans cheer again, and even chant, “You Deserve It!” Iyo bows in thanks for that. Now Bianca has her turn to speak. “Iyo, I have all the respect in the world for you. I really do. But last week, I gave you a pass because it was lowkey my fault, so I’ma tell you exactly what I told Rhea. If you put your hands on me and think you can get away with it, you don’t know me at all. So WrestleMania, you gonna find out exactly who I am. I am Bianca Belair, The EST of WWE, and I will be your NEW Women’s World Champion.” Fans are a bit more torn here, but Bianca signs her part. Pearce says it is now official!
The fans cheer and Pearce thanks them for being so professional. But then RHEA RIPLEY shows up! The fans fire up but Pearce, Bianca and Iyo are all shocked and upset about this. Mami has a mic as she storms down the ramp, but Pearce already calls in refs! Pearce asks what Rhea is doing out here, but Rhea asks them what they’re all doing out here. Because last she checked, Iyo slapped her in the face and she won’t do nothing about it, like Bianca over here. How the hell is Bianca acting like nothing happened? Well, for one, Bianca had to sign the contract for WrestleMania. That’s what she’s doing out here.
Rhea says real funny, coming from Bianca. Because Bianca had no business being out here for Rhea’s title match, but there she was. So time to take a page out of Bianca’s book, and she’s just out here to watch. Oh, then Rhea will be just watching WrestleMania! Bianca and Rhea argue, Iyo gets riled up, and she storms up like last time. But Bianca pie faces her first! Bianca says she ain’t getting smacked today! Well she gets a HEADBUTT from Rhea! Bianca ends up on the table, and then Rhea kicks Iyo! Rhea reels Iyo in, and hauls her up, to POEWRBOMB onto Bianca! The table doesn’t break, but Pearce has had enough of Rhea!
Rhea sees the contract on the floor, then picks it up. And she SIGNS IT, TOO!? Can she do that?! We have the two signatures, but is she making this into a Triple Threat?! Pearce argues with Rhea all the way to the back as she plays keep-away, but is Mami about to be on top one way or another?
Jey Uso walks ‘n’ talks.
“Yeah! Yeah! Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaay~! YEAH! I ain’t been myself lately. Been doubtin’ myself. Mind playin’ tricks on me. So I flew halfway around the world to whoop somebody’s ass! And that person tonight is Austin Theory. But at WrestleMania, it’s me and you, Gunther, when I shock the world and become World Heavyweight Champ! So Uce! Hey, Uce! Please hit my music-” GUNTHER IS AT GORILLA! Jey and Gunther get to shouting but Pearce and security barge in! Pearce says not tonight! Not after everything Rhea just did! Gunther says he talked to Jimmy on Friday, and he’s just as dumb as Jey!
Jey shoves Gunther, security ushers Gunther out, and Jey says he’ll see “G” out there! UH UH, YEET!! Jey makes his entrance, will he be even more fired up to fight #AllDay Austin Theory?
Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller!
Raw returns and A-Town Down Under makes their entrance. The bell rings, Waller distracts Jey already, and Theory fires off haymakers! They end up in the corner, the ref reprimands and counts, but Theory talks trash on the Yeet! Theory drags Jey up, whips him corner to corner, but Jey goes up and over. Jey keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges then SPEARS!! Cover, Jey wins!!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall
That was fast! Jey really IS fired up to fight Gunther for Mania! Waller storms in, but Jey SUPERKICKS him down! Jey then watches ATDU regroup, and Jey FLIES! Jey clips the ropes just a bit but he still takes ATDU down! Jey gets back up, but GUNTHER GETS HIM IN A SLEEPER!! Gunther squeezes tight, but Jey RAMS Gunther into a corner! Jey is free to fire haymakers! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks, but Gunther blocks the shot! Jey ROCKS Gunther with his off hand, and then he YANKS the title from Gunther!! The fans fire up, Gunther runs up in a rage, but Jey DUMPS him out! The fans fire up as Jey holds up the belt!
Gunther is furious, the fans cheer, but then Jey tosses the belt back. Der Ring General tried to punk out Jey, but Jey turned the tables! Will nothing stop Jey from proving he IS a main event player?
Pearce argues with Rhea.
Pearce will not allow Rhea to get away with what she’s doing! You can’t just write your name on a contract! Rhea says yes she can, she literally just did it! This is like talking to a child. Give him the contract! No! Yes! No! YES! NO! Rhea Ripley, give her the contract! Rhea says then he should put her in the match, her name’s on the contract! She shoves the contract into Pearce’s chest, he thanks her and takes his leave. But here comes Bianca! She and Rhea brawl! Bianca HAMMERS away, but now Iyo gets in, to go after Rhea! Bianca shoves Iyo aside and says Rhea is hers! Iyo DECKS Bianca, tells Bianca not to screw with her, but then Rhea SHOVES Iyo into a door!
Rhea goes after Bianca, and throws her into road cases! Pearce returns to have refs usher Rhea out of here! Rhea demands to be in that title match! Will Mami get what she wants? Or will she throw things out of whack until she does?
The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee!
After that wild encounter earlier tonight, this was a natural choice for all parties involved! Will Julius & Brutus get payback for Master Gable being run out of the building? Or will American Made learn not to mess with the L W O?
The teams sort out and Julius starts against Dragon. The bell rings, and Julius JUMP KNEES Lee down! The fans boo but Julius drags Lee up for a fireman’s carry. But Lee pops up to RANA Julius away! Brutus runs up but Lee dodges to SUPERKICK! Brutus tumbles out, Lee DIVES onto Brutus! Lee goes up a corner, then CROSSBODIES Julius! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Lee clamps onto Julius. Lee reaches out but Brutus YANKS Rey down! Julius turns things around and hits Lee with a ROLLING SPINEBUSTER! Then a SLIDING LARIAT! Julius scowls, the fans boo, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and the fans rally as Lee wipes out the Creeds! Lee crawls for his corner, hot tags to Julius and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey BLASTS Brutus, BOOTS Julius, then ELBOWS Brutus to dodge Julius! Tilt-o-whirl DEJA VU RANA! Julius flounders around, the fans fire up, and Rey climbs up on Julius. Rey rains down fists, and the fans count all the way to “Sept” (seven in French) before Julius carries him off the corner! Brutus is there and Julius hands Rey off! But Rey fights back, elbowing Julius away and raining fists down on Brutus! But Brutus THROWS Rey at Julius, and Julius catches Rey!
Julius powers up and brings Rey around, but Rey swings to DDT! Lee is back, FLYING RANA for Brutus to the floor!! The fans are thunderous and Rey goes up top! But Julius springs up after him! Only for Rey to HEADBUTT him away! Rey leaps, FLYING RANA and Julius is on the ropes! Rey dials it up and the fans cheer the 619! DROP THE DIME! Cover, LWO WINS!
Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall
The King of Lucha and his Boy Wonder took down the Creeds, but WAIT! That American Made luchador is back! He CLOBBERS Rey, dodges Lee, and then FLYING HEADBUTTS! El Americano rains down fists on Lee, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Rey storms up to fire forearms! The fans fire up, but Gable- er, uh, Americano waistlocks again! GERMAN SUPLEX and Rey lands on Lee! The fans boo “whoever this is,” but now he goes up top! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” a la Angle, but Americano says SHOOOOSH! DIVING HEADBUTT on Lee!! “UH GRACIAS~!” Americano runs away as security rushes out here!
Gable was ran off from the building, yet this luchador returns. What is going on with this masked man mystery?
Seth Rollins is here!
Brussels sings his song, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary is in a comparatively normal outfit. Rollins high-fives fans and makes his way to the ring in his dark green suit and boots highlighted with gold chain and wristwatch. What will Rollins have to say about the shocking way Roman Reigns returned? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns as the fans continue to sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it while he has the mic in hand. The fans applaud as the singing just keeps going. Another round of applause, and then Rollins tells Brussels, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!” The fans cheer again, and Rollins says that by the sound of this, they already know it. In case you don’t, this is a Visionary, this is a Revolutionary, this is SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! The fans cheer more, the singing returns, and Rollins again smiles. The fans applaud, and Rollins says alright. He was coming out here mad as Hell, but it is hard to be mad with those beautiful voices serenading him.
Rollins takes a moment as fans start to chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Well, we’ll get to him, but Rollins wants to talk Roman Reigns first. “O T C! O T C!” Yes, you saw the footage last week. Is Rollins mad as Hell that Roman came for revenge? Absolutely not, cuz he’d have done the same damn thing! HAHAHA! “The problem is, even after all these years, and a Wise Man in his ear, Roman Reigns still can’t come up with a plan. He needs his Architect to do it for him.” Roman had the time, the place, the moment, but he left one detail out: That detail is the man the fans were all chanting for just a few moments ago.
The “C M PUNK!” chant returns and Rollins says yes, “The luckiest loser on the face of the planet.” Because of Rollins had just a few more seconds in that cage, he would’ve ended what he promised the world. He would’ve stomped Punk through the mat, ended the Mania dream, and put Punk’s career on ice! Rollins would’ve taken care of the Punk Problem for everyone, including Roman. But like the good ol’ days, Rollins is left to clean up Roman’s mess. The “O T C!” chants return, and Rollins says don’t worry, he’ll put OTC in his place along the way. And it just so happens that Rollins’ two favorite people are going to be in the same place at the same time this Friday Night SmackDown.
Oh, trust him, Brussels, Rollins wishes those two were here, too. But… Rollins was just thinking… Why let them boys have all the fun? Maybe Rollins makes a trip down to Italy, makes a trip to SmackDown, and he puts himself right in between Roman and Punk? What do the fans think about that? The fans cheer, and Rollins says yeah, that sounds like a nice way to solve a problem and clean up a mess. But that is Friday, this is Monday, this ain’t about SmackDown, this is about the fans! This has been one hell of a crowd all night long! They’ve been singing with their beautiful voices, there’s just one match left and that is the main event for the Intercontinental Championship!
So Brussels, sing Rollins’ beautiful song as he makes his way to SmackDown and we make our way to the main event! Give it to ’em, Brussels! “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it again, and he says, “It’s on. See you boys on Friday, HAHAHA!”
Backstage interview with AJ Styles.
Cathy is with the Phenomenal One and says he had a lot to say on the Raw Recap show about Logan Paul. Could he give us a bit of that here? Styles says he stands behind everything he said. Styles hears the fans sing for him, then says Logan Paul just doesn’t belong. But then Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux walk over. Kross asks if that’s really how Styles feels. Styles says he doesn’t need this. Kross says he is just offering a different perspective, but if Styles doesn’t want it… Kross turns to go but Styles says fine, let’s hear it. Maybe Styles isn’t mad about Logan Paul. Maybe Styles is mad at himself. That’s enough of that.
No, hey, hold on! Kross just wants Styles to think: How long did it take for Styles to get to the WWE and find validation? 16? Styles says it was 17. Okay, okay. But it didn’t take Logan that long, did it? Is Styles not able to respect a guy who just waltzed into the business and did everything Styles has ever wanted to in record time? Styles sees where Kross is going with this, and it’s not gonna work. Styles leaves, but Kross says it’s working. He and Scarlett do the Scott Hall fingers, will their mind games make Styles and Logan bitter enemies?
Bron Breakker heads to gorilla.
And Penta is there! Penta looks at the title, and Bron smirks. Will this be the match-up for the title? Or will this Road to WrestleMania take a detour thanks to The Judgment Day?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor!
The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been chewing up this roster ever since he got here, but The Prince claims he chews up “rookies” like Bron his whole career. But until these two fight it out, it’s all just talk. Whose bark is worse than their bite when the bell rings?
Raw returns and Bron makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time to see who’s the real badass around here!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. In fact, they’re even dueling, “Let’s Go, Balor!” and then barking for Bron. Finn and Bron feel things out, knuckle lock, but then Finn backs away to ropes. The ref has Bron stay back, Finn leaves the ropes, and the two reset. They tie up, Finn headlocks, but Bron powers up and out. Bron RUNS Finn over, the fans bark, and Bron snarls as he storms up on Finn. Finn kicks low, CLUBS Bron on the neck, then headlocks. Bron blocks the takeover with pure brawn, then he hoists Finn up! The fans fire up, but Finn uses that to flying headlock takeover! The fans cheer while Finn grinds Bron down.
Bron endures as Finn thrashes him around. Bron rolls Finn to a cover, TWO, and Finn holds onto the headlock. The fans rally, Bron powers out and headlocks. Finn powers out, drops down, then bypasses Bron to TOSS him out! Bron lands on his feet! The fans fire up, Bron storms in, and he RAMS Finn into a corner! Bron RAMS Finn again and again, then snarls again. Finn staggers to another corner, but Bron runs up to LARIAT! Bron whips Finn to TOSS him out, and Finn tumbles! Bron goes out the side, and he builds up speed! The fans fire up, but Finn SLINGBLADES Bron down! Finn has control while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Finn has Bron in a corner. Finn CHOPS and the fans “WOO~!” Finn paces, then he goes back to Bron for a haymaker. Bron counter punches! And counter punches! Bron fires hands, whips, then scoops, but Finn tilt-o-whirls through to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Finn ELBOWS Bron in the neck, the fans rally up, and Finn stalks Bron. Finn scuffs Bron, SLAPS him, and talks trash. “You know who I am? I’m Finn Balor!” Finn keeps scuffing and slapping, and the fans tell Finn he done messed up! Finn fires hands, but Bron just snarls! Bron ROCKS Finn again and again, then whips. Finn reverses, but Bron LEAPING ELBOWS!
Bron storms up again, clinches, and EXPLODERS! Finn flounders, Bron whips again, but Finn KICKS the backdrop away. Finn runs, Bron dodges and then catches Finn for a POWERSLAM! The fans fire up and bark, and then Bron drags Finn up. But wait, here come Dom & Carlito! It was only a matter of time before Judgment Day pulled this move! They distract Bron and Finn rolls Bron up! TWO, and Finn runs up, but Bron catches him by the neck! Military press, but Finn slips free, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO! Bron survives and Finn is frustrated, but Dom & Carlito cheer Finn on.
Bron crawls to ropes, Finn spins him around, and Finn JUMP STOMPS! The fans tell Dom he sucks, Carlito tells Dom to tune that out, and Finn gives more stomps! Finn asks Dom what he’s doing out here, so apparently this was another of Dom’s ideas. Finn CHOPS Bron, then whips, but Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds up speed to CLOBBER Finn! The fans fire up and bark again while Finn bails out. Bron storms out after Finn and the ref tells Dom & Carlito to back off. Bron LEAPS from the apron and onto the desk! Both men go tumbling over and the fans lose their minds! Bron sputters, Corey Graves lost a shoe, and “This is Awesome!”
Bron and Finn slowly stir, and Bron is on his feet! Finn crawls, wants mercy, but Bron stomps him! Bron puts Finn in the ring, and he dares Dom & Carlito to pull something. Bron slides in and builds speed again! SLINGBLADE! Finn hits first, and then he hurries to go again! SHOTGUN and Bron hits buckles! Bron slumps down into the drop zone so Finn climbs up! The fans fire up as Finn reaches the top! COUP DE- NO, Bron dodges, runs up, but Finn hurdles over the Spear! Roll up, TWO!! Bron grabs Finn again, military press, BREAKKER SLAM! Cover, TWO! Finn survives, both men are down, and the fans are fired up!
Dom & Carlito coach Finn but Bron is up first. Bron has blood in his mouth, perhaps from a busted lip, but he doesn’t care. Bron runs in, but Finn KICKS him first! And ENZIGIRIS! Bron is down again so Finn goes back up! But Bron hurries to trip Finn! Finn CLAWS at Bron’s head, then throws hands! The fans rally, Finn stands, but Bron ROCKS him first! Bron climbs up and brings Finn to the top! But Carlito distracts the ref! Dom YANKS Bron into a HOTSHOT, but that trips Finn up, too! Finn lands on his prince and he’s pissed at Dom! Dom apologizes, but Bron is just as mad! Bron BLASTS Dom, BLASTS Carlito, then springs up after Finn! SUPER STEINER!!
The fans are thunderously barking, Bron hits the SPEAR!!! Cover, Bron wins!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Bron is so badass, not even Judgment Day could cost him! But now Judgment Day attacks him! The fans boo but Dom goes to grab the belt. Carlito bumps Bron off buckles, but here comes Penta! The fans fire up as Penta slides in, and he dodges Dom to then SUPERKICK Dom down! Carlito runs up, into a SUPERKICK! Bron gives Carlito a SPEAR! But now Penta holds onto the title as he stares down Bron. The fans sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CERO~ MIEDO~!” Penta hands the belt to Bron, and Bron holds it up. Will these two put it all on the line in Las Vegas?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for Raw in Brussels, and the Brussels crowd was just as fun as the Barcelona crowd on Friday. Cena and Cody opening with their big promo segment was the right move to give it time to breathe. Cena did a perfect job of using the fans as part of his promo because he took the trope of “I blame the fans!” to the ultimate level. He didn’t just use recent stuff, he used his entire 25 years and all the phases he went through as part of it, and he really dug into some personal feelings for both him and the fans. Cody therefore had the perfect counter to show Cena was only focusing on the negative, and how that’s not who Cena has presented to us. I think we’re getting another appearance of Cena next week, can’t wait to see how Glasgow treats him.
Iyo and Bianca had a good contract signing but I expected a touch more from both promos. Rhea joining in was the main element, and this is clearly heading for a Triple Threat. That quick brawl backstage was good, and I feel like we’re going to get Rhea VS Bianca to see if Rhea earns her spot in the match. Good stuff from Jey and Gunther again, but I kinda wish we’d just gotten only brawl. Jey squashing Theory was pretty wild, and he still gets the better of Gunther here, but it should’ve just been all Jey and Gunther. Gunther promised a living Hell for Jey, but I’m not sure we’re quite there yet. All the more reason Gunther should’ve beat up Jimmy on Friday as a way to stick it to Jey.
Good promo from Styles and Kross to add to this Styles VS Logan Paul build. Kross continues to be a great instigator, but when is he going to get back in the ring for his own desires? Or is he just waiting for the right opening to mess with the right champion? Honestly, as it feels like Jey is going to win the world title, Jey is the perfect target for Kross. Jey admitted to himself that there is insecurity right now, and the belt can help give him confidence again, but Kross can certainly find ways to tear that back down on the way to Backlash and beyond.
Very good stuff from American Made. Gable being run off by the LWO of course set up “El Americano” for that tag match segment, but it was also a good part of Dakota being Ivy. I feel like it’d be a bit much of Dakota gets a third match with Lyra, but I don’t know if that means Judgment Day screws Lyra out of the title. Cheating Lyra could be a way to keep her strong in the loss, and we could get some good stuff as Dakota takes on Raquel. Plus, DMG CTRL currently having the world title makes them an eventual target of Judgment Day, and the tag titles could also be in the mix for some serious Two Woman Power Trip teasing.
Judgment Day also had great stuff tonight. Dom thinking Penta would want to join Judgment Day is interesting, I wonder if that was Kross’s idea. Penta VS Kaiser was a great opener, but I feel they could’ve done more for a No Holds Barred match. Still good stuff to give Penta the win and move on from Kaiser to call out the Intercontinental Championship. Bron VS Finn was a great match, even with Dom & Carlito showing up. Dom accidentally messing Finn up was pretty clever, and that just adds to the Judgment Day tension. While Bron VS Penta will be awesome stuff, I was kinda hoping we’d get Finn VS Penta to add even more intrigue to the Judgment Day story, but I guess that’s something that doesn’t need a title.
My Score: 8.9/10
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