Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Clash of Champions Report! (12/17/17)
All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service, and WWE’s official Twitter
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff Match: Zack Ryder VS Mojo Rawley; Rawley wins.
- WWE United States Championship Triple Threat: Baron Corbin VS Bobby Roode VS Dolph Ziggler; Ziggler wins and becomes the new WWE US Champion.
- WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Fatal 4 Way: The Usos VS The New Day VS Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable VS Rusev & Aiden English; The Usos win and retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
- WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Lumberjack Match: Charlotte Flair VS Natalya; Charlotte wins and retains the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
- Breezango VS The Bludgeon Brothers; Bludgeon Brothers win.
- Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura VS Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, Double Special Guest Referees: Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon; Kevin & Sami win and keep their jobs.
- WWE Championship: AJ Styles VS Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers; Styles wins and retains the WWE Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
Backstage interview with AJ Styles.
The WWE Champion won his title overseas during WWE’s UK Tour. Ever since then, former champion Jinder Mahal has tried to get his title back any way he can. Styles saw through his tricks, such as making it seem that The Singh Brothers were switching sides. Is Styles concerned about any new tricks up Mahal’s sleeve? Styles admits that while he saw through the lies, he shouldn’t have turned his back on the Singhs, because that allowed Mahal to blindside him. Styles will do what he always does: defy the odds. He’ll be ready for everything and anything, like the Great Khali returning, or the Singh Brothers being annoying as usual. He knows he to be better than good, and better than ready. He’ll be phenomenal! Will The Phenomenal One live up to that name and remain THE WWE Champion?
Backstage interview with Naomi.
A former SmackDown Women’s Champion in her own right, #TheGirlwiththeGlow speaks on the Riott Squad beating her down and being Charlotte Flair’s only ally in the Lumberjack match. Naomi is familiar with haters, like The Welcoming Committee’s Carmella and Tamina. She also admits The Riott Squad are dangerous, sidelining Becky and almost doing the same to Naomi. She warns the rookies: stay away or “in the worst way possible”, you will #FeeltheGlow. But speaking of The Welcoming Committee, they appear to speak with Naomi in person.
This is only to “welcome” Naomi back. These four haven’t seen eye to eye, but have a common enemy in Riott Squad. If Naomi doesn’t cross them, they won’t cross her. But then The Riott Squad appear in person.
Welcome back, Naomi. How about they welcome you to a broken jaw? Things break down into shouting, referees have to keep the peace. With this much tension in the SmackDown Women’s Division, will that Lumberjack match simply turn into a powder keg?
Charlotte Flair joins the Kickoff Commentary.
The Queen of Flair and SmackDown Women’s Champion has a “very busy night” ahead of her. One on one with Natalya is one thing, but how does she feel with the rest of the SmackDown Women’s Division ringside? The former champion is a threat, but so are all the other women. How will Charlotte deal with only having one ally on her side? Charlotte doesn’t politic like Natty, but she admits The Riott Squad is probably the biggest threat out there, even with Carmella being Ms. Money in the Bank. Speaking of the Queen of Harts, she appears!
Natty is so happy to see everyone, especially Charlotte, and Natty’s championship. The Queen of Harts hopes Charlotte gave that title a nice big hug, because this is the last time she’ll get to hold it. After tonight, “baby’s coming home to mama.” Natty takes her leave to prepare, Charlotte “loves” her confidence. Charlotte takes her leave now, will she leave the TD Garden with the title?
The New Day visit the Social Media Lounge.
The four-time WWE tag team champions want to become five-time champions, inside a SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tag Fatal 4 Way. They are ready for the questions! “Will you guys start officially selling New Day branded ‘Booty Powder’ pancake mix”? Yes, given supply and demand. The New Day provides for the people. “Will becoming the Five-Time WWE world tag team champions be the best Christmas ever?” Yes!
Today is @WWEBigE's FIVE YEAR, FIVE YEAR, FIVE YEAR, FIVE YEAR, FIVE YEAR anniversary in @WWE!!! #WWEClash @XavierWoodsPhD @TrueKofi pic.twitter.com/WRC6ZF7djB
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 18, 2017
The number five is fitting, because five years ago, “yo boi” Big E debuted to run over and slam down John Cena, with Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee at his side! The others give applause for this great moment. “What is the game plan for tonight”? Why would they give it away!? They’re four-time champions for a reason: their opponents never know what’s coming! All these questions, and you ask that one? They will never slip up! They will never crack up! You will never see New Day’s crack. The New Day is confident as ever, can they make the SmackDown Tag Team championships their early Christmas presents?
Kickoff Match: Zack Ryder VS Mojo Rawley!
The Hype Bros came together to become tag team champions, but fell short when Ryder fell from a knee injury. They reunited, but had missed their window, and Mojo blames Ryder for it all. The Hype Bros “are dead”, so who will come out the survivor of this friendship’s fallout?
Ryder dropkicks Mojo right at the bell! He hammers away, Mojo shoves him, runs, Ryder clotheslines Mojo and tumbles out with him. The brawl continues on the outside, Ryder backing Mojo down, but Mojo rams Ryder into the LED apron! Mojo puts Ryder back in the ring but Ryder comes back with a wrecking ball dropkick! Ryder puts Mojo back in the ring then dodges the shoulder to kick Mojo away. Ryder gets in the ring only to get a spinebuster from Mojo!
Mojo looms over Ryder, then picks him up for a right hand that puts him in a corner. Mojo continues with a headbutt then a corner to corner whip with a corner splash. Cover, TWO, so Mojo puts Ryder in a chinlock. The fans rally, Ryder feeds off the energy but Mojo rocks him with a right. Mojo puts Ryder in a corner, runs but gets knees from Ryder, Ryder hops up only for Mojo to shove him down to the floor! The referee counts as Ryder crawls but Mojo goes out to gain speed and then run Ryder over!
Ryder collides with barriers, Mojo trash talks while we go to break.
#WWEClash returns, Mojo grinds Ryder down with another chinlock. Ryder fires himself up and fights against the hold, jawbreaker frees Ryder, only for Mojo to boot him down! Mojo trash talks again, “Show me your killer instinct!” Mojo toys with Ryder now, “that all you got?” Ryder wills himself up and then rocks Mojo with a right hand, then a back elbow. Ryder rallies, but Mojo grabs his throat, Ryder breaks free to slap Mojo!
.@MojoRawleyWWE at #WWEClash: Is THAT all you got?@ZackRyder: pic.twitter.com/Gi7RKyY0iR
— WWE (@WWE) December 18, 2017
The fans fire up as Ryder rallies, big forearm smash in the corner and then more right hands before the Broski Boot! Ryder keeps going, a second Broski Boot against ropes, Ropebreak! Ryder can’t believe it, he brings Mojo up but Mojo holds the ropes. The referee backs Ryder off, Mojo chop blocks out the leg! Mojo fires up, runs, Hype Arm! Cover, Mojo wins! He shouts in Ryder’s face, because he proved he didn’t need Ryder. It is #MojoRising, who will be the next to feel his fury?
“All will be defended or lost.”
Everyone wants to be champion, but not everyone can be champion. Pride and glory combine in this “clash of champions” tonight, who will come out still holding on to theirs?
WWE United States Championship Triple Threat: Baron Corbin VS Bobby Roode VS Dolph Ziggler!
The Lone Wolf didn’t want to defend his title, but at a Pay-Per-View where every champion must defend their title, he has no choice but to take on both The GLORIOUS One and the Show-Off.
The bell rings, the three men circle, Roode and Ziggler decide to take care of the big bad Lone Wolf. They corner Corbin and pounce with mudhole stomps! Corbin bails out but Ziggler and Roode pursue, giving him haymakers and a double clothesline that send him out into the crowd. Roode then turns on Ziggler with haymakers and puts him in the ring. Ziggler almost hits the Superkick, Roode almost hits the DDT, Ziggler powers out and sits, TWO. ZIggler kicks low, jumps but Roode dodges, atomic drop to Russian side leg sweep. Cover, TWO, Roode slows the pace but Ziggler throws him out of the ring. Corbin returns to run Roode over!
Ziggler grabs Corbin but Corbin rocks him with a right hand. Corbin throws Roode into barriers, then drags Roode up and into the ring. Roode gets to a corner while Corbin reenters the ring, COrbin runs in for a big corner clothesline and standing STO before giving a stiff right hand on the run. Fans boo and jeer, Corbin embraces it all before bringing Roode up again. Corner to corner whip, Roode hits buckles hard and Corbin watches him writhe. The Lone Wolf drags Roode up again, to ram shoulders into Roode’s back. Corbin rocks Roode with another right, then goes out to fetch Ziggler. Ziggler goes back first into barriers! Corbin returns to Roode in the ring, stalks over but Roode kicks and chops back. Roode backs Corbin down, runs, but into a sidewalk slam, cover, Ziggler breaks it. Ziggler grabs Corbin, Corbin hits back. Corbin stomps away on Ziggler in a corner, fans boo and jeer whiel Corbin runs at Roode. Roode dodges, Corbin slides out then in, keeps going for Roode but Roode ducks so that Ziggler takes the lariat. Roode throws haymakers and chops again, Corbin shoves him but is kicked away, Roode runs Corbin over! Now Roode goes on a rally, corner to corner whip reversed but he gets the boots up to then hop up, blockbuster!
Cover, TWO! Corbin rolls out of the ring, Roode stalks over, Ziggler returns for the Zig-Zag but is bucked off, Roode rallies on him now. Ziggler back elbows Roode, but runs into boots. Roode hops up again, takes aim, jumps but Ziggler dodges to then kick out a leg and hit the Famouser!
Corbin breaks the pin just in time! All three men are down, fans rally as Corbin tears away his shirt. The champion sees his challengers in opposite corners, he runs in and clobbers Roode, then clobbers Ziggler, then runs at Roode but takes a back elbow and then a dropkick from Ziggler! Roode slams Ziggler, then gets slammed by Corbin via the Deep Six!
TWO! Corbin is frustrated, he, Roode and Ziggler are down on the mat. Fans cheer for Roode, which upsets Corbin, so Corbin picks on Roode first. Corbin hoists Roode up onto the top rope before climbing up to join him, Roode fights back and knocks Corbin down. Ziggler appears outta nowhere, Roode resists so Ziggler hammers away. Ziggler tries again, but Corbin has returned, Tower of Doom!
Corbin covers Ziggler, TWO! He goes over to Roode, TWO! The Lone Wolf feels frustration creeping in, fans cheer “this is awesome!” Corbin grabs Ziggler, choke slam escaped! Ziggler dodges, Corbin hits a post! Ziggler sees Roode all alone. The Show-Off tunes up the band, fans react in a mixed bag, Roode dodges and hits a SPINEBUSTER! Roode winds it up… GLORIOUS! But ZIggler escapes the DDT, satellite DDT from Ziggler! TWO! Ziggler cannot believe it, and now Corbin has returned to throw him out. ZIggler stays on the apron, Roode dumps Corbin back out, Ziggler returns for- No, Roode blocks the Superkick, to trip Ziggler and catapult him into a buckle! GLORIOUS DDT!
Corbin returns to throw Roode out but gets thrown out isntead, cover, Corbin drags Roode out! Choke Slam Backbreaker on the outside!
Corbin drags Roode back into the ring, brings him back up, End of Days and a Zig-Zag!!
Ziggler wins!! He is the NEW United States Champion!! Ziggler played the odds and won, is this a new resurgence in his WWE career?
SmackDown GM and Commissioner receive their referee uniforms.
Daniel Bryan feels his is a bit too big for him. He requests a new one, but Shane’s fits. Shane has been “going a little bit bonkers” with this. He respects Bryan, but the plan was Sami & Kevin were supposed to be gone. Shane made himself special guest referee, yet Bryan makes himself the other? What is Bryan thinking? Bryan wants to protect SmackDown’s integrity and protect Shane from himself and his grudge. Shane admits he has a temper, so let’s play it out. Two referees, one in and one out? No both inside. Unprecedented! Any ideas how that’ll work? Yes, and Bryan wants to talk about that in private. Shane will fetch Bryan a shirt that fits, then they’ll discuss a plan that fits. Will these two be able to get along once the bell rings?
Backstage interview with Baron Corbin.
Between losing the US Championship and failing in his Money in the Bank cash-in, does he sense he’s building a reputation as someone who “squanders opportunities”? Corbin didn’t “squander” anything! He was cheated! Ziggler didn’t belong, Ziggler stole that title, and will pay for it in the rematch!
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Fatal 4 Way: The Usos VS The New Day VS Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable VS Rusev & Aiden English!
“And because today is Rusev Day”, it is a great day to become SmackDown Tag Team Champions. “On the 12th day of Rusev, my partner gave to me~!” 12 months of Rusev, 11 Russian Medals, 10 Lanas leaping, 9 second winning, 8 Aiden songs, 7 boards a breaking, 6 Machka Kicks, 5 Pluvtive keys~! 4 of the lads, 3 unhinder Jinders, 2 Rusev shirts, and a tag team title victory~! But no time for encores, the match must begin!
Why is Aiden English still singing? This ain’t American Idol or the Voice. The Usos give a remix, feel free to sing along! 12 days, LOCK DOWN! 11 days, LOCK DOWN! You know the rest. The Uso Penitentiary has the SmackDown Tag Team Division #OnLock, but can it stay that way when practically the entire division is in one match?
Four men must start, one from each team, so it is Gable, Jey, Kofi and ENglish at the bell. They circle, pair off, Gable rolls Kofi but English rolls Gable but Kofi rolls English but Jey rolls Kofi, TWO! All four men find themselves by their corners, so they all tag in their partners and it is an eight man brawl!
Teams spill out, the New Day’s Kofi and Big E control the ring, Kofi gets a boost to FLY!
Kofi wipes out Gable & Benjamin, Big E runs but is dumped out, Jey runs and FLIES onto him and English!
Jimmy climbs, Benjamin springs up to join him, SUPER OVERHEAD SUPLEX!
Benjamin covers, Big E breaks the pin. Big E drags Benjamin up for body shots and a whip, then a big shoulder into the corner. Kofi returns, “time to turn up!” The New Day stampedes on Benjamin, two rotations until Kofi has to dropkick Rusev down. “Who? Who who?” Kofi gets whipped to dropkick Benjamin, then back around for Jimmy! Rusev MACHKA Kicks Kofi, and then sends Big E into a post. Rusev solos the Usos, covers, TWO. Cover on Kofi, TWO! The fans chant for “Rusev Day!” before he tags English at the same time Benjamin & Gable focus on Kofi. Gable & Benjamin hit the back suplex bulldog, Gable covers, TWO. English drags Jimmy up and bumps him off a buckle, then gives a forearm to his back. Gable puts on a keylock while English puts on a chinlock, they stare each other down as they do it. Benjamin tags in, he and Gable isolate Kofi. English keeps Jimmy down, Benjamin suplexes Kofi while Rusev kicks Jimmy down. The two teams hold a tense truce as they pick apart their prey, Gable tags back in while English tags in on his end. They keep Kofi and Jimmy isolated, English covers but TWO. Benjamin asks for room as he whips Kofi, big back body drop sends Kofi flying. Benjamin knocks Jey Uso down while English suplexes Jimmy, cover, Benjamin breaks it. English tags Rusev, Benjamin tags Gable, they continue to isolate and pick apart Kofi and Jimmy, Rusev breaks Gable’s pin. Benjamin tags back in, as does English. Gable tags back in to help with double knees and kicks, as well as knocking Big E down and out. BIG heel kick from Kofi outta nowhere!
Big E and the fans rally as Kofi crawls, Benjamin is dumped out, but the hot tag to Big E is denied by Benjamin. Gable hits a rolling kick, English breaks the cover. The truce ends as Gable and English shove each other, Jimmy tries to take advantage. His dragon whip kick is sent into Gable, English knocks him down, Kofi returns for double stomps! The fans rally on New Day’s side, all four men are down but crawling, hot tags to Jey and Big E! They rally on the others, mule kick to uppercut to overhead for Gable! English takes a Samoan Drop! The #UceTruce allows Jey to hit Gable with the running hip attack, and Big E to hit English with the Big Splash!
Double cover, double TWO! Jey and Big E stare down now, the #UceTruce breaks down! They throw heavy haymakers, Jey SUPERKICKS Big E! Jimmy SUPERKICKS Kofi! Rusev comes in, SUPERKICK! ENglish in, SUPERKICK! Benjamin & Gable, double SUPERKICKS, but then blocks into a powerbomb for Jimmy, Texas Cloverleaf for Jey!
Benjamin guards Gable, Jey endures, Kofi springboards in for a powerbomb! English drags Benjamin out, DDT! MACHKA Kick to Gable, then the Widowmaker, TWO! Rusev Day almost had the titles! English tags Rusev, Rusev targets Gable, stomp to Accolade!
Gable endures the Bulgarian Brute’s signature hold, Big E returns to throw Rusev to ropes, scoop Rusev up, and with Kofi on the top rope- No, English shoves Kofi down! Then a hotshot for Big E, roll-up, TWO! MACHKA KICK! TWO!! Rusev can’t believe it, but he won’t slow down. “MACHKA!!” Another Accolade!
Big E endures, Woods begs that he keep it together, Big E finds a second wind to power up, but he’s back in the hold! Big E fades, but Gable appears to give Rusev a German Suplex!
English returns, he bumps off a buckle, roll into a German! Gable aims at Big E now, shove into another rolling German!
THe fans fire up with Gable, he’s far from over. He grabs Jey but Jimmy tags in and makes the save, SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK! Jey tags back in, Uso Splash!
The Usos win and retain the titles! Can the Uso Penitentiary keep SmackDown’s Tag Team Division on Lock Down forever?!
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Lumberjack Match: Charlotte Flair VS Natalya!
The Queen of Flair may be champion tonight, but can she remain atop the SmackDown Women’s Division when a former champion is her opponent, the entire division is ringside, and Ms. Money in the Bank is among them?
The bell rings, Charlotte and Natty tie up, Charlotte gets a standing switch but Natty elbows out. Natty runs to run Charlotte over, poses, then runs only to run into Charlotte’s back elbow. Charlotte boots Natty out right in front of Naomi, Naomi gets hers with kicks to Natty before feeding her to Charlotte. Charlotte grabs Natty, Natty bumps out and gives Charlotte a haymaker. Natty throws Chalrotte to her Welcoming Committee, who now get theirs. CHarlotte fights back, the Riott Squad helps put Chalrotte in the ring, Natty is upon her. Natty trash talks before throwing haymakers, whips but Charlotte kicks back then gives a Flair Chop and stiff neckbreaker. Charlotte boots Natty down, covers, TWO. Natty gets to a corner, boots Charlotte away then throws her into buckles before posing again. Fans boo and jeer, Natty embraces it as she clotheslines and stomps Charlotte down. Natty kicks Charlotte out, The Riott Squad is upon her. The Welcoming Committee wants some, but THe Riott Squad keeps them away as they feed Charlotte back to Natty. Natty feeds Charlotte back to the Lumberjacks, the Riott Squad and Welcoming Committee beat her down.
They put Charlotte back on the apron, Natty uses a baseball slide dropkick to send Charlotte back down, and the two stables beat Charlotte down again. Natty enjoys toying with Charlotte, giving a stiff kick to the ribs and then a slap across the face. Charlotte returns the slap so Natty clubs her down and wraps on a chinlock. Natty tells fans to “shut up!” before she thrashes Charlotte around on the mat. Charlotte endures, Natty keeps on the squeeze. The champion endures, Naomi the only woman ringside on her side. Fans rally, Charlotte feeds off the energy, but Natty throws her down, walks over her and hits a dropkick. Natty keeps it up with another kick to the back, then a choke at the ropes. The referee counts, Natty backs off at 4, then goes for another dropkick but Charlotte gets up to let Natty fall out of the ring. Natty worries what’ll happen to her, but Carmella does nothing more than help Natty back into the ring. Charlotte gives Natty a Flair Chop, then another, and another, and another. More and more chops, Charlotte then whips Natty for one big double chop! Charlotte styles and profiles, goes back to Natty but her whip is reversed, but she manages to hit Natty with a backbreaker and buckle shot. Charlotte puts Natty in position, climbs up but is yanked down by Natty! Natty drags Charlotte around, tries the Sharpshooter but Charlotte slaps her away. Roll-up, TWO, boot! Charlotte has Natty now, FIgure Four shoved away, Charlotte falls out on top of Ruby!
Ruby’s Riott Squad pounces on Charlotte, The Welcoming Committee come in to get theirs, now the Lumberjacks fight each other! Naomi appears to springboard onto all of them!
The Lumberjacks are all down, Charlotte finds Natty and gets her back in the ring. Ruby anchors Charlotte, Natty wants after her but the referee backs her off, so Tamina has an opening for a SUPERKICK to the champion! Natty embraces the heat before putting Charlotte into the Sharpshooter!
Charlotte endures the Hart Family signature, but powers her way to the ropes! Natty drags her away, The Riott Squad and Welcomign Committee watch Charlotte suffer. Charlotte tries again, crawling towards other ropes, and gets the ropebreak! The Lumberjacks drag her out and attack! They fight against each other agani, it is chaos at ringside! Charlotte ends up in the ring, Natty finds her way out of the chaos but it is Carmella who enters the ring! With her MITB briefcase!!
Natty and Ruby stop Carmella, but the Lumberjacks flood the ring, too! They move out of the ring, Natty has Charlotte but Charlotte throws Natty out. Natty fights her way out while Charlotte climbs up, SUPER Moonsault onto the Riott Squad and Welcoming Committee!
Natty finds Charlotte and throws her into a post. The Queen of Harts grins as she stomps the Queen of Flairs, but is stuck dragging dead weight into the ring. Natty returns, grabs Charlotte again, Sharpshooter reversed into the Figure Eight!
Natty endures, Natty taps! Charlotte wins and is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion! She defied the odds and the numbers, can anyone hope to dethrone THE Queen of SmackDown?
In-ring interview with Natalya.
How is she feeling after this “disappointing outcome”? Natty did nothing wrong. Tonight, Charlotte did what she does best: using her family name to cut corners! “I have given the WWE Universe some of the best matches the women in this company have ever seen!” Natty has carried the Division for 10 years, yet all of them have treated Natty with nothing but disrespect. Fans boo and jeer even now. “The WWE Universe wants to turn their back on me?!” The Women’s Division wants to turn their back on her? Natty will turn her back on them! Natty leaves, tears of frustration in her eyes. Is this the last time the Queen of Harts will be seen in a WWE ring?
Backstage interview with The Singh Brothers.
This was meant to be an interview with the former WWE Champion, Jinder Mahal, but Samir & Sunil will not let anyone interrupt the Modern Day Maharaja in his “deep, deep, deep meditation”. Jinder Mahal did hear what Styles said, however, and Mahal’s reaction? Laughter. AJ Styles is mistaken if he thinks he’s going to defy the odds tonight. Mahal & The Singhs humiliated Styles, and are all very confident Mahal will become a “two time two time” WWE Champion. Mahal is so confident, he won’t even need The Singh Brothers. Does that mean they won’t be ringside? Watch and find out.
Breezango VS The Bludgeon Brothers!
The Fashion Police have been tracking down who trashed their headquarters, and finally cracked the code: 2B means The Bludgeon Brothers. Can Fandango & Breeze arrest Rowan & Harper? Or will they be two more lambs to the slaughter?
Harper and Breeze start, the bell rings, Harper rocks Breeze with an uppercut and scares Fandango off. Harper tags Rowan, Rowan pursues Fandango, then returns to Breeze. Breeze gives an enziguri that rocks Rowan, tag to Fandango, double boots knock Rowan off the apron but not off his feet. Breeze jumps, Rowan catches him, Fandango saves Breeze from worse, Rowan stops himself from going into a post while Harper boots Breeze down! Fandango fights alone against Harper & Rowan but his tornado DDT is denied, Rowan clobbers him in the back. The Bludgeon Brothers put Fandango in the ring, then bring Breeze up for an apron facebuster! Breeze crumples to the floor, Rowan squashes Fandango. Harper tags in, full-nelson lift to the sit-out powerbomb. Harper tags Rowan back in, they lift Fandango up, double crucifix slam!
Rowan covers, The Bludgeon Brothers win. They aren’t done, they take to the mic.
“The future holds more bludgeoning!” “More pain!” “More fear!” “The end of the beginning.” “The beginning of the end.” Harper & Rowan have issued their mission statement, can the SmackDown Tag Team Division survive?
Backstage interview with Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
Earlier, Daniel Bryan claimed that he is the second guest referee for the sake of SmackDown’s integrity, but Shane claims it is for “ulterior motives”. What is this about “ulterior motives”? They know the real reason Bryan became the second referee. Bryan is the only reasonable authority figure, and they know why he jumped into SmackDown’s main event to count the victory for Kevin Owens. People forget that Shane has a history of screwing people over as a special guest referee. Shane did it to Kevin over the Summer when he “screwed” Kevin out of once again being the United States Champion. Bryan knows he has “A+” talent, and wants tonight to be a fair fight. The Sami & Kevin Show isn’t being cancelled any time soon, and the #YepMovement rages on. But what if they lose and are fired? They’re speechless. Kevin & Sami leave without a word, will they be forced to leave the WWE tonight?
Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura VS Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, Double Special Guest Referees: Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon!
This grudge dates all the way back to the Summer, became extremely personal after The Prizefighter brutalized Vince McMahon, and hit an all-time high when Kevin & Sami ruined SmackDown’s chances in the Survivor Series 5v5 Elimination Match. Now Shane O’Mac looks to finish it off, losing here means Sami & Kevin lose their jobs in the WWE!
Bryan already keeps the peace between Shane, Kevin and Sami, the teams sort out who starts. Sami starts against Orton and the bell rings. Sami talks trash to Orton before they circle and tie up, Orton powers Sami to a corner, but then Sami turns it around. Shane counts for the break, Sami gives it. Orton and Sami tie up again, Orton gets a headlock, fans serenade Sami with “Ole~ Ole~!” Sami powers out but Orton runs him over, both refs count but the rhythm is off, but it is still a TWO! Sami gets Orton to a corner again, dirties up the break with body shots, Shane backs him down. Orton kicks and European Uppercuts Sami to the other corner, then wrenches an arm before tagging in Nakamura. Nakamura gives Sami body shots and an arm wrench, Sami grabs Nakamura’s hair. Shane reprimands Sami, fans duel in a chant, Sami puts on a headlock. Sami wrenches Nakamura again, fans keep dueling while Nakamura reverses with spins and a cartwheel, Nakamura wrenches Sami. Bryan points out the ropebreak, Nakamura lets go, but is right back on him. Sami powers Nakamura to his corner, Kevin tags in and fires off shots, Shane and Bryan both back him off. Kevin and Shane argue, Kevin gives Nakamura another shot. Kevin stomps and chops Nakamura, Nakamura turns it around to fire off shots. Bryan has to be the one to back Nakamura off, Nakamura snapmares Kevin for a knee drop. Another double count that is off-rhythm, but still a TWO. Orton tags in, he stomps Kevin’s foot. Orton gives Kevin EuroUppers and haymakers, then stomps. Bryan has Orton bring it out, Ortonw hips but is reversed, Orton throws Kevin down by his head, the double count again gets confusing. Sami thinks this is a joke. Shane and Bryan work out territory of the ring, Shane will take the half with Orton’s & Nakamura’s corner, Bryan will take Kevin & Sami.
The match continues, Sami swings on Orton but gets rocked, Kevin gives Orton a SUPERKICK! That’s Shane’s side, TWO! Kevin argues with Shane, then stomps away on Orton. Sami tags in, they mug Orton in their corner but Bryan makes sure they cool off. Kevin gets a cheap shot, Bryan is right on it. Orton gets to Shane’s side of the ring, Sami grinds an elbow into Ortno. Shane backs Sami off, Sami chops Orton. “You wanna try and take my job?!” Sami says as he chops more. Orton fires back with a EuroUpper! Tag to Kevin, Kevin grabs Orton and brings him back, then clubs him down. Kevin backs Orton down to his corner, stomps away, Sami trash talks while Bryan counts. Kevin argues with Bryan about Shane’s count before giving Orton a knee. Sami tags in again, Sami stomps on Orton before locking him in a chinlock. Orton has an arm locked behind him, Kevin starts up the “YEP! YEP!” chants. Sami keeps Orton from getting away, but Orton reverses the suplex to hang Sami out to dry on the top rope. Both men down, the referees check on each of them. Bryan begins a count, Sami tags Kevin, Kevin intercepts Orton and knocks Nakamura down. Shane reprimands him, Kevin drags Orton out for the back senton! Shane counts, TWO! Kevin gets upset, he wanted Bryan to count, but it wasn’t Bryan’s side. The chinlock returns, fans rally, Orton gets up and fights out. Orton backs Kevin down with right hands, Kevin kicks back and has Orton on his side again. Tag to Sami, Sami chokes Orton on the ropes. Both refs have Sami back off, Sami returns to the chinlock. Sami talks trash even as Orton reaches, but Sami denies the tag, only to take a back suplex! Both men down, crawling for their corners, hot tags to Kevin and Nakamura! Nakamura rallies, Dynamic Dropkick!
Nakamura unloads kicks on Kevin’s chest, enziguri! Kevin takes knees from Nakamura, Nakamura gives Sami a forearm. Corner to corner knee smash, then more knees, Nakamuar sits Kevin down for Good Vibrations! Kevin is set on the top rope, Top Shelf Knee! Cover, Shane counts, TWO! Nakamuar drags Kevin up, Kevin slips out, swings and misses, Nakamura swings and hits on the second! Shane counts, TWO! Nakamura brings Kevin up again, Kevin resists the inverted exploder. Kevin elbows Nakamura into his corner, Sami comes up but Nakamura knocks him down, Kevin runs into a boot. Nakamura hops up, Kevin goes at him, tornado takedown into the triangle hold!
Shane and Bryan both check on this, they move around while Kevin props himself up, it’s a cover on Nakamura! Bryan goes over the line to count it, TWO! Shane and Bryan argue over what was happening, Nakamura runs into a SUPERKICK from Kevin! Shane counts, TWO! Both men down, they crawl for their corners, tag to Sami. Sami knocks Orton down, then takes aim, corner to corner for the- Nakamura boots Sami, runs out, but gets caught in the Blue Thunder Bomb!
Bryan counts, TWO! Sami is frustrated, Shane is relieved. Sami tags Kevin, they both go after Nakamura, Shane reprimands while they double whip. Drop toehold to back senton, Orton breaks the cover. Orton rains hands, Shane and Bryan reprimand him, Sami tackles Orton to rain down hands. Shane backs Sami off, Sami throws Orton out. Bryan keeps peace, fans start dueling again. Kevin goes for another back senton but meets Nakamura’s knees! They crawl, hot tags to Orton and Sami, Orton is the one to rally. Sami swings, misses, fakes out the powerslam but then gets caught into an exploder from Orton! Orton finds Sami on the apron, drags him up, Sami hotshots Orton away. Sami flounders his way to the top rope, Orton trips him up! Bryan reprimands Orton for a moment, but Orton doesn’t care, he climbs up. Sami resists but Orton still hits the SUPERPLEX!
Kevin drags Orton out and puts him into steel steps! Nakamura goes after Kevin with a strike fest! Nakamura throws Kevin into a barrier and keeps going, Sami clobbers Nakamura down. Both Shane and Bryan try to bring this match back in order, Nakamura won’t stop going after Kevin but Sami makes him pay for it with a bump off the announce desk. Kevin & Sami clear off that table, and then mug Nakamura. The referees both try to stop this, Shane accidentally pokes Bryan in the eyes? Sami drags Nakamura up onto one table, Kevin takes aim from the other, running splash!
Kevin and Nakamura crash through the table!! The fans are losing their minds! Shane checks on the two men, Sami asks him and Bryan “What’re you gonna do? DQ us?” Sami in the ring, powerslam from Orton! Orton stalks Sami to the apron, pulls him through the ropes, and with the fans in a fever pitch, draping DDT!
Orton hears those voices in his head now! Shane is fired up for The Viper as he watches Sami staggering to his feet, RKO!
Orton covers, Shane counts, Kevin barrels into Bryan to fall onto Shane?! Shane gets furious with Bryan, that was going to be the finish! The referees argue as Orton glares down Bryan, Kevin comes in, RKO for Kevin! Orton wants Bryan to “pay attention”, Sami surprises Orton and Bryan counts, but then Orton rolls onto Sami and Shane counts, then back again, then back again, TWO! Orton rushes Sami, Sami rolls, Shane counts but STOPS!?
Everyone realizes Shane just screwed Sami out of a win. The referees argue again, fans are on Bryan’s side with this one. Orton gets up, RKO denied, roll up, Bryan with a fast count!! Shane tries to hit Bryan but misses, Sami & Kevin WIN!! They keep their jobs!
Orton and Nakamura are furious, Shane is beside himself as well. Commentary argues over who did what first, what will be the fallout of this screwed-over screwjob?
WWE Championship: AJ Styles VS Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers!
The Modern Day Maharaja became the 50th WWE Champion ever, and immediately deemed himself the greatest champion ever. However, he did anything and everything he could to stay champion against the likes of Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura. The Phenomenal One found a way around those underhanded tactics and became the new WWE Champion in Manchester, England, and now Mahal wants his title back. Can Styles defy the number game again to stay THE Champion?
Fans already chant for Styles before the bell. The bell rings, The Singh Brothers give some last advice before Mahal circles with Styles. The two tie up, Mahal powers Styles to a corner, then backs off. Styles comes back at him, Mahal still powers Styles back. Mahal honors the break and dares Styles to try again. They circle again, Styles gets a waistlock but Mahal elbows out hard. Mahal dares Styles to get up, fans boo and jeer. Styles stands up, checks his nose, Mahal flexes his muscles. Fans duel, more for Styles than for Mahal, the two men tie up but Mahal kicks, which Styles blocks. Styles picks apart Mahal’s leg, Mahal gets out of the ring, Styles pursues and kicks out that leg! The ref counts as Styles slams Mahal’s leg into barriers, then brings Mahal up and in. Styles makes sure the Singh Brothers stay back before getting in the ring, single-leg takedown and Styles stomps away on Mahal’s leg. Mahal endures a knee-wrench while he scrambles to ropes, he gets the ropebreak and the referee has Styles let go. The SIngh Brothers protest, Styles goes back at Mahal’s leg, Mahal shoves Styles away to then give a sharp throat chop! Styles gasps, but gets running, Mahal catches him to then toss him to the ropes!
Styles snaps off the rope and tumbles to the floor! Mahal rests as a ring count begins, but fetches Styles as Champion’s Advantage won’t let him win the title this way. Mahal brings Styles back up but Styles kicks at that back leg. Styles gets to the timekeeper’s area, Mahal grabs him by his hair, Styles ends up pulling off a barrier pad in the process. Mahal throws Styles into other barriers, then refreshes the count. Things return inside the ring, fans chant “Jinder Sucks!” Mahal spots something, then drags Styles out. He throws Styles into the exposed barrier!
Styles crashes and burns into the timekeeper’s area, the referee tries to regain order but Mahal refreshes the count before going over to Styles. Mahal sees Styles crawling out, so he brings him up and into the ring. Mahal grins as he stalks Styles, then drives in a knee to Styles’ back. A springboard knee drop and more stomps keep Styles grounded and gasping for air, Mahal kicks Styles right out of the ring. The Singh Brothers stay back, the referee fails to keep Mahal from going out again and slamming Styles on the announce desk!
Mahal refreshes the count again before further stalking Styles. Back into the ring again, Mahal kicks Styles while he’s down. The former champion stretches the current, clubs him with a crossface punch and then stretches him again. Fans chant “U S A!” at Mahal, Mahal stomps and snapmares Styles before putting on a bodyscissors. Styles endures the powerful squeeze, fans rally and cheer for him, Styles has to keep his shoulders up so it isn’t also a cover. Mahal keeps squeezing, Styles fights his way out and gets to a corner. Styles fights back with kicks and haymakers, he backs Mahal down with each shot. Corner to corner whip reversed, Styles goes into the buckles to batter his ribs again. Mahal brings Styles up to elbow him down, then brings him around for a kneeling abdominal stretch. Fans rally, Styles gets up and fights back, Mahal grabs Styles’ hair to put him in a corner. Mahal rams his shoulder into Styles once, then twice, then hops up to the second rope. The Singhs cheer Mahal on as he hits the flying ax handle but fans boo and jeer. Mahal grins as he aims at Styles from the second rope again. Mahal jumps, into Styles’ dropkick! Styles is down while Mahal rolls out of the ring, Styles crawls over to that side. The Singh Brothers distract Styles, he swipes at them, then slingshots over but Mahal moves. Mahal tries to trip Styles up, Styles lands on his feet and ducks the swing to then mule kick Mahal in the stomach. Styles rocks Mahal with a haymaker before putting him back in the ring, then rocks Mahal again as Mahal tries to intercept. Styles jumps up but Mahal trips him up so that Styles ends up hung up on the ropes again. The Singh Brothers cheer Mahal on, Mahal drags Styles up, fireman’s carry into the gutbuster drop!
Cover, TWO, Mahal and The Singh Brothers are upset that didn’t finish it. Mahal stalks Styles to a corner and keeps up the attack. Styles is set on the top rope and rocked with a right hand, then another. Mahal climbs up now, taking his time bringing Styles up. Styles resists, slips out, Mahal catches him by the jaw! Styles still spins around, Electric Chair drop!
Both men down, the ref begins a count, fans begin a rally. Mahal and Styles stir, stand up, Styles blocks and counters, but then Mahal rams in a knee. Styles comes back, Phenomenal Blitz! Sliding forearm! Both men are down again, Mahal gets himself to a corner. Styles gets to the opposite corner, runs in, big splash, then the fireman’s carry. The bad ribs limit Styles and Mahal gets down, Styles lets him run past and uses momentum for the Ushigoroshi!
Cover, TWO! The Singh Brothers are relieved, and Styles is too sore to show frustration. The champion gets up and has his challenger in position for the Clash, but Mahal powers him back into a corner. Mahal rams shoulders into the bad ribs, backs off but gets boots, Styles runs but is tossed! Cover, TWO! Now The Singh Brothers are furious, as is Mahal. Mahal drags Styles up, suplex escaped, spin around, Northern Lights! TWO! Both men down once again, the referee checks on both of them. Styles stands up, Mahal grins as he sees the damage done in effect. Styles runs, but Mahal blocks the forearm with boots from the ground. Mahal glares now, fisherman lift into Shell Shock!
TWO! The Singhs are at a loss for how Styles is still in this match, but Mahal is not upset at all. He grins as he calls for his finish, grabs Styles but Styles breaks free, ducks under, PELE! Styles drags Mahal up now, but Mahal powers him back again with heavy shoulders. Styles gets a knee in, Tornado DDT denied with power, running kick! Cover, TWO! Now Mahal feels the frustration, fed up with Styles’ resiliency. The Maharaja grabs Styles again, and brings him to a corner. He lifts Styles up in that cobra clutch, Styles breaks out for another PELE! Styles yanks Mahal right off the corner and Mahal crashes to the ground. Styles gets to the apron, takes aim, springboard 450!
It connects! But Styles’ ribs keep him from making a cover, and the Singh Brothers work to save Mahal! So Styles slingshots onto them! Even with bad ribs, Styles gives Samir a Styles Clash!
The Singh Brothers are taken care of, Styles returns and hotshots Mahal. The fans fire up, springboard for the Phenomenal- no, Mahal gets under Styles’ jump and then gives him a knee to the back of the head! Cobra clutch into the Khalas!
Mahal drags Styles to the center, covers, TWO!? Somehow Styles survives?! Mahal is at a loss, but the fans cheer for Styles. Mahal drags Styles up again, he wants to steal the Clash! Styles counters, rolls, Calf Crusher!!
The bad leg suffers the submission, fans are thunderous as Mahal flails and reaches. Styles wrenches as hard as he can, Mahal keeps trying, Styles rolls him away! They’re in the center now, Mahal taps, Styles wins! Styles remains the WWE Champion! Mahal’s game plan failed, Styles proved he is Phenomenal! With the Modern Day Maharaja defeated, ho will be next to step up to the Phenomenal WWE Champion?
My Thoughts:
The concept of “Clash of Champions” may be obsolete since almost every PPV has every champion defend their title anyway, but the execution of it tonight was spot-on. Every match was excellently done from the first to the last, and in the end went the way that was best for SmackDown in the coming weeks. Mojo wins because his Heel Turn needs to remain strong, Bludgeon Brothers win because they’re just too strong for Breezango, and both of those feuds can continue on the way to the Royal Rumble. Ziggler wins the great triple threat and becomes the new United States Champion not just because it was a big surprise to the fans, but because WWE wanted to give Ziggler a reason to still stick around. The Usos stay champions after an incredible Fatal 4 Way, all four teams are super talented and the Boston fans love Rusev Day. The SmackDown Tag Team Division can go any which way WWE wants, because pretty much all the teams in it right now are very talented and entertaining.
The Women’s Championship match went exactly as I’d hoped. Natty tries to use the Lumberjacks to her advantage, the Lumberjacks end up fighting each other, Carmella attempts an MITB cash-in only for the Lumberjacks to prevent that, and Charlotte stays champion with her options open for the Royal Rumble. Kevin-Sami win because that was the obviously inevitable outcome, but the way the match wrote the story for it was great. Shane did exactly as we expected, i.e. trying to screw Sami-Kevin over with the stopped count. Likewise, Bryan did as expected in response, i.e. siding with Kevin-Sami by giving them the fast-count win, I can’t wait for SmackDown to see the aftermath. Styles remains champion, as everyone was hoping, and he did it in a great underdog fashion as Mahal looks the most legitimate he has his entire time being around the WWE Championship. Mahal had a plan, Styles toughs it out, and now Styles is also open to face anyone at the Royal Rumble.
My Score: 8.5/10
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Could this be the biggEST and strongEST SmackDown of the year?
SmackDown in Knoxville sees the returns of Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes and John Cena, along with some final Money in the Bank qualifiers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax; Naomi wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Mateo wins.
- Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar; Los Garza win.
- Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration; Zelina wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu; Andrade wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bianca Belair is here!
Knoxville fires up for their strongEST, fastEST, quickEST, toughEST, roughEST, and greatEST hometown hero as she struts out to the ring. Bianca high-fives and hugs fans along the ramp, as well as mom and dad at ringside. Bianca then grabs a mic to say, “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” The fans cheer and chant for “EST! EST!” Bianca says she loves them so much. And she couldn’t come out here without singing Rocky Top! Y’all ready? The fans cheer, and the music plays! Bianca conducts the fans as they sing for the University of Tennessee. In fact, the Lady Vols softball team is playing in the Super Regionals right now!
Bianca smiles and says this city is so special to her. Not just because it is her hometown, but because it is her safe space. She has her love and support from mom ‘n’ dad, and has all the fans who show up and show out for her. With everything Bianca’s been going through, losing at Mania, getting injured, losing tag titles and friends along the way, she just wanted to come back home to her safe space. The fans cheer, and Bianca says she came home to heal. While she’s not 100%, she is doing everything she can to get back to the ring and continue to show us why she is the EST of Tennessee and of WWE! The fans cheer that!
Bianca says with all that said, Knoxville, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! But wait, she’s interrupted by Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi says, “Oh my gosh~! Finally! B, I am so glad you finally here on SmackDown!” Bianca says now is not the time, Naomi. Naomi asks Bianca to please hear her out. It has been way too long. Not a day has gone by when Naomi doesn’t think about what happened to them. What is there to talk about? What could Naomi say? What could she want from Bianca? The fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Naomi, and Naomi says she just wants forgiveness. She is begging for it!
Naomi knows things go toff the rails, but she is here because she wants to fix it, she is trying to fix it, but she alone can’t fix it. Months have gone by, and Naomi has tried to communicate, to say the past can be the past and that they can move forward. Bianca has not responded back to Naomi once. Naomi even visited Bianca’s parent’s house! But no one would answer! WHAT?! Mom ‘n’ Dad don’t know about that, but Naomi says no one was home, so she let herself in! Naomi looked through the photo albums, the one right on the front coffee table. And in those photos, Bianca looked so happy. It reminded Naomi of how they were as tag team champions.
Bianca stops Naomi there. Naomi, Bianca will make this perfectly clear. They were best friends, but Naomi betrayed Bianca’s trust. Naomi took their friend, Jade, and threw her onto a car, then lied about it for months! Bianca said she was done with Naomi, she meant that, and if Naomi ever comes near her family again, what Naomi did to Jade will be nothing compared to what Bianca does to Naomi. The fans fire up for that! Naomi gets emotional, but then she gets mad. “Y’know, Bianca, it wouldn’t be good for you and your mama to be in a wheelchair.” The fans boo as Naomi laughs maniacally. Naomi says she’d hate if something happened to Bianca here and now!
Naomi storms up on Bianca, but then JADE makes her way out here! Naomi is even angrier now, but this Storm starts throwing hands! The fans fire up as Jade BOOTS Naomi down! Bianca and Jade look to each other, neither really saying or doing anything. Naomi runs up but Jade TOSSES her out! Jade and Bianca look to each other again, but then here comes NIA! The Irresistible Force won’t be left out of this, especially when this is the Women’s Triple Threat Qualifier for the night! This match now opens the night, who earns SmackDown’s final golden ticket to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax!
SmackDown returns, this match is already going, and Naomi POSTS Nia! Naomi stalks Jade, rains down forearms, and the fans boo. Naomi stomps to BITE Jade’s hand! Jade still fights back, so Naomi has the arms to STOMP Jade down! Naomi flexes, the fans boo, and Naomi puts Jade in a corer. Naomi runs to DROPKICK Jade in the corner! Naomi SLAPS Jade, drags her into the drop zone, then goes up, up, and twerks! HIP DROP! Naomi covers, ROPEBREAK! Naomi is annoyed but she sits Jade up to stomp a mudhole in. But Nia runs up! Naomi dodges, the HIP ATTACK hits Jade! Naomi goes to the apron to ROUNDHOUES Nia!
Naomi reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Nia flops to the floor, the fans rally for Jade, but Naomi kicks her around. Naomi goes up the corner, leaps, but Jade catches her! Jade FALL AWAY SLAMS Naomi, then kips up! Knoxville fires up with Jade and she runs up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Nia breaks it! The fans boo but Nai huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Naomi up. Nia whips Naomi, pops her up and HEADBUTTS her down! Then she SAMOAN DROPS Naomi! Nia soaks up heat, then lines the two up. Naomi grabs at Nia’s leg but Nia CLUBS her down! Nia stomps Jade for good measure, then drops a leg, brother!
Nia TOSSES Jade out, then goes up the corner. Nia SUPER LEG DROPS on Naomi!! Cover, TWO!!! Naomi survives and Nia is shocked! The fans rally while Nia stalks Naomi. Naomi clings to ropes as Nia pulls at her arm. Nia CLUBS Naomi, whips her to ropes, then SAMOAN DROP- NO, Naomi makes it a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Ghost pin, TWO!! Nia survives the sudden turnaround, Naomi sees Jade crawling in, and Naomi goes after her as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Naomi KICKS Nia while she’s down, then kicks her more. Naomi puts Nia in a corner, CHOKES her on the ropes, then clamps on with a SLEEPER! Nia THROWS Naomi away, then TOSSES her out. Nia soaks up heat, but Jade runs in and rolls Nia up! TWO! Nia stands, and she HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia looms over Jade, drags her up, but Jade fires forearms! Jade backs Nia down, then runs, and she CLOBBERS Nia outta the ring! Jade fires up and has the fans with her. Jade drags Naomi up from the apron but Naomi fires hands. Nia is back to HIP ATTACK Jade against the POST! Nia soaks up more heat, then taunts Naomi.
Naomi stands on the apron, argues with Nia, but they apparently agree to mug Jade for both their benefit. They put Jade in the corner, Naomi digs her boot in, and then Nia sends Naomi in for a SPALSH! Nia adds a SPLASH of her own! Naomi snapmares Jade, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Jade sputters and Nia taunts her. Nia and Naomi soak up the heat together, but Jade fights back! Nia HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia drags Jade up, and Naomi KICKS Jade low! They soak up more heat, talk trash on Jade, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Nia scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Naomi runs to SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, but Nia drags Naomi away!
Nia and Naomi argue again, and then Naomi rolls Nia up! ONE, and Nia grabs Naomi to shove her to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then pushes Naomi down. Nia runs to SENTON! Nia grins while Naomi sputters and the fans rally up. Jade rises to fire forearms on Nia! Then she ELBOWS Naomi in a corner! She ELBOWS Nia, but then Nia follows Jade! Jade dodges so Nia SPLASHES Naomi! Jade then SUPERKICKS! Nia wobbles, Jade SUPERKICKS again! And SPINEBUSTERS! But Naomi METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives and the fans rally up. Naomi goes up, SPLIT- LEG MOONSAULT on Nia! But Jade has Naomi in the chicken wings!
Jade brings Naomi around, JADED!! Cover, Nia CLOBBERS them both! The fans rally while all three women are down! Nia climbs a corner, Jade is after her with forearms! Naomi joins in, drags Jade back, but now they trade shots! Nia DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Cover on Jade, TWO! Cover on Naomi, TWO! Nia grows frustrated but the fans rally up again. Nia drag Naomi up, fireman’s carries, and she climbs the corner! The fans already anticipate what’s coming, SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Cover, JADE FROG SPLASHES IN!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up while all three women are down again! “This is Awesome!”
Jade rises, she clamps onto Nia, but Nia HEADBUTTs her! And HEADBUTTS Naomi! Jade BOOTS Nia down! Cover, TWO! Jade runs up on Naomi but Naomi BOOTS her! Naoim goes up top but Jade is right on her! They fight for control, but then Nia joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!! Nia double stacks her opponents, for a A-NIA-LATOR!! Naomi avoids it, Jade takes it all! Naomi ghost pins Nia, AND WINS!!
Winner: Naomi, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Nia did a lot of the damage, but it is Naomi who wins out! Will everyone in the Women’s MITB Ladder Match now have to #ProceedWithCaution?
Solo Sikoa’s crew arrives.
Solo says they will win Money in the Bank together! Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, whichever one wins MITB wins it fof the family! But then they hear R-Truth talking to… Lil’ Jimmy? Solo says Truth’s childhood hero beats him, and now he’s talking to ghosts. Truth taps Solo on the shoulder and asks if there’s something Solo wants to say. Solo says Truth is crazy touching him. JC Mateo steps up but Solo has him stand down. Truth says he wants to be honest. He’s never seen JC a day before in his life. Is this Solo’s son? He’s husky! Truth asks if he can teach Solo’s husky son a lesson in the ring. Solo says that sounds good to him.
Truth says he’ll go talk to Nick Aldis. “Boy, y’all big boneded!” Truth heads off, and Solo says don’t worry, they’ll take care of him. Let’s have fun. Fatu says keep it 100. They can have their fun, he’s got his own business to take care of. Yadada mean? The Imperial Unit against Truth, Samoan Werewolf in a qualifier, will everything go the family’s way?
Chelsea Green confronts Nick Aldis.
The Hot Mess hides behind a cardboard cutout of herself as she tells the SmackDown General Manager, “What happened on Saturday night was a deliberate-” Piper Niven has to direct Chelsea to point at Aldis, and Aldis says he can’t quite understand her from behind the cardboard mask. Piper holds the mask between Chelsea and camera, though we do get a glimpse of her fancy headgear. Chelsea repeats herself, but Aldis says she needs to be looking at him when they talk. Chelsea hides her face in shame, but she says it is still a deliberate hitjob put on by vicious Zelina Vega! Even her Secret Her-vice could not stop it!
Chelsea demands that Zelina be suspended, stripped of her title, and that Chelsea be reinstated as the champion! Chelsea, no need to be so ugly about this. Gasp! Aldis says what he means is, no suspensions, and we can talk a rematch down the road once Chelsea is medically cleared. Then he is doing nothing for what Zelina did to Chelsea?! Alba says if he won’t, then they will! Yeah, Zelina VS Alba! Tonight! Alba is a bit surprised, but Aldis says, “Chelsea knows best. Alba VS Zelina, I actually like the sound of that. I will make that official right now, if you do one thing for me. Please leave me alone.”
The Green Administration hurries away, but will Alba make sure Chelsea brand justice is served? Or will La Muneca just keep racking up the wins?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Champion, and says that MITB is around the corner. Tiff successfully cashed in her own contract to become champion, but how is she handling the pressure of knowing the same thing could happen to her? Tiff says she can’t wait to see who wins MITB. Then she can handle the pressure by being prepared. Having this title makes her the top threat to the division, but let’s be fair. She’s always been the girl everyone has been obsessed with. So whoever wins, targeting her will be a big mistake. But then in steps Naomi.
Naomi says if Tiff thought Nia was a problem, then she ain’t seen nothing yet. Naomi vows to win MITB and cash in for Tiff’s title, wherever and whenever she wants. And in case Lil’ Miss Tiffy forgot, when Naomi was fighting for a championship, Tiff stayed in Naomi’s way. Wanna know what happens when people play with Naomi? Just ask Jade. Naomi heads out, and Alexa Bliss steps in. Alexa says she wouldn’t be so worried about Naomi. Be worried about Alexa. Alexa heads out now, Tiff clutches to the title a little bit tighter, who will be trying to run the clock out on Tiffy Time?
R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
To Solo’s point, #RonCena could not make John Cena see the light at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Truth might be relapsing if he’s talking to Lil’ Jimmy again. But will Truth relapse so far that we get the R-Truth that was once United States Champion? Or will a Tour of the Islands send Truth off the deep end?
SmackDown returns and JC makes his entrance, Solo backing him up. The bell rings and Truth runs up, only for JC to RAM him into a corner! JC RAMS Truth again and again, then lets off. JC whips corner to corner hard and Truth falls in a heap! JC whips corner to corner again just as hard, and Truth falls in a heap again. Solo talks trash but the fans rally behind Truth. JC runs up but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! JC stays up, so Truth runs and SHOULDER TACKLES! “What’s Up?” Truth runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SHOULDER TACKLES! Then he hits the SPIN OUT- CROSSBODY! JC then gets up to GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT!
JC smirks as he looms over Truth, and Solo says to finish this off now. JC runs to SENTON but Truth moves! Truth calls for it! “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth fireman’s carries JC, but JC is too much! Truth falls over again! Solo laughs, JC whips, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!
Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall
Truth tried to be like John Cena of old, but it just wasn’t meant to be. JC beats up on Truth more, then stands him up for Solo! But here comes BIG Jim! Jimmy has a chair, he runs JC off, but Solo stands his ground. Solo says his brother wouldn’t hit him with that chair, would he? Jimmy steps to Solo so Solo steps out, but that lets JC CLOBBER Jimmy! But then Solo has JC stand down! They’re family! Solo and JC leave, leaving Jimmy wondering what this is about. Will Jimmy make it clear to Solo that Jimmy’s not the one who has to come to his senses?
The Street Profits are here!
The WWE Tag Team Champions walk through the smoke to be on stage and the fans cheer. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford hold up the titles, walk to the ring, then step inside. The fans cheer as they hold up the belts again, then the Profits grab the mics. Ford says, “Knoxville, Tennessee, oh I love everything about you, and what I have, too. But lemme rap to y’all real fast. This tag team division that we’re a part of, the greatest tag team division on any brand, any promotion… It’s on fire right now.” Dawkins says, “Talk to ’em.” Ford says, “But just like how the gorilla fears us, make no mistake about it, let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now: The Street Profits.”
The fans cheer, and Dawkins says hey, they got all the teams coming at ’em! DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and now… The Wyatts?! The fans cheer that, and Ford says that’s sick. But what big bro is saying, it don’t matter who it is, the Profits will defend against anybody. Well hold on, here comes Fraxiom! Nathan Frazer & Axiom go to the ring to stand with the Profits, and they have mics. Frazer says alright, since the Profits are talking about defending the titles, well, Frazer & Axiom didn’t exactly get a fair shake. Ford says, “Fraxiom, is it?” He congratulates them for being on a roll, but up until the Wyatt Sick6 got in the Profits’ business…
Yeah, the Profits had them beat. Wow, oh, okay. Sure, maybe… But maybe not. Thanks to the Wyatts, we’ll never know. And now that those shenanigans are behind us, it is fair to say that Fraxiom and the Profits need to run it back! The fans like the sound of that! But wait, here come the Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin have mics, and Shelley says okay, hold on, sorry to interrupt. Fraxiom’s entire basis for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. Well, last time Shelley checked, the Profits never beat MCMG! So if they’re handing out title matches, MCMG will take one. But naturally, here comes DIY!
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae have their own mics, and the Poison Pixie says no no no no. She is pretty sure “you losers” have had a million chances, and “the nerds” just got here. Whoa, hold on? Just got here? Sounds like Candice just got back, so she should do us a favor and shut up. Gargano says you shut up, idiot! The reason DIY brought in Gargano’s beautiful wife is to even the odds against all of what this is! Everyone can see there is a conspiracy in the tag team division to hold down the BTTITW! And now with the Wyatts showing up- Ciampa has Gargano ixnay on the amily-fay.
Do not talk about you know who, scratch that, let’s get to business. All these teams have all KILLED the tag division that DIY built! Matter of fact, let us hold a moment of silence for the death of the SmackDown Tag Division. Everyone, stand up, bow your heads, and give a moment of silence… now. OH NO! The lights go out! All the teams panic, because when the lights turn on, UNCLE HOWDY is on the corner! Howdy laughs, because the rest of the Wyatts flank the ring! Erick Rowan drags MCMG out to DOUBLE LARIAT! Dexter Lumis is up top to CANNONBALL onto the Profits and Gargano! Joe Gacy is in, and he handsprings to bring Fraxiom to the UPSIDE-DOWN!!
Lumis then runs, POWERBOMB SENTON COMBO on Axiom! Ciampa freaks out, turns around, and Nikki Cross is there! CROSSBODY onto Candice! The fans fire up, and Howdy has Frazer for SISTER ABIGAIL! “We’re here!!” It is just as the Profits said, and now it is clear. Will some killer combination of the Wyatts go right after the gold?
Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar!
Worlds Collide is just over a week away, and all four of these men will be involved. The Immortal Firebird and the Young OG are going after the NXT North American Championship in a Fatal 4 Way while Legado Del Fantasma will be taking on AAA’s Pagano, Psycho Clown y El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Who will be heading for Los Angeles with all the momentum behind them?
Speaking of that North American Championship, the champion is here! Ethan Page joins commentary and says what a year for him, to be honest. Wade says that title has never looked better than on Ethan’s shoulder. Fenix makes his entrance now, followed by Je’Von’s. The teams sort out and Fenix starts against Angel. Angel and Fenix circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Angel fires a forearm, Fenix fires back, repeat! Fenix gets the edge but Angel shoves then drops down. Fenix cartwheels over the dropdown, then comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Angel tumbles, the fans fire up, and Fenix somersaults, but into a fireman’s carry!
Fenix slips free, ripcords to ROUNDHOUSE, but Angel HEADBUTTS! Both men stagger back, tags to Berto and Je’Von! Je’Von dodges and springboards to BOUNCY~ roll-up! TWO, and Berto mule kicks! Berto CLUBS Je’Von, whips, but Je’Von reverses and slips around. Berto bucks the O’Conner, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Berto drags Je’Von up, but Je’Von kicks! Berto blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! Je’Von runs up, and BOUNCY~ RANAS! The fans fire up and Je’Von DROPKICKS! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but Je’Von goes Matrix to dodge! Je’Von kips up, and STUNNERS! Angel flops back and the fans fire up!
Los Garza regroups, Je’Von tags Fenix, and they build speed, but have to dodge Angel first. Fenix SOBATS, Je’Von KICKS, and both men ENZIGIRI! Berto is up top, he leaps, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix runs to basement CALF KICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this for Los Garza while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fenix drags Berto up to RAM him into the corner. Tag to Je’Von and they mug Berto. Berto fires hands back on Je’Von, but Je’Von headlocks. Berto powers up and out and Angel tags in. Berto drop toeholds Je’Von into Angel’s KNEE at the ropes! Angel TEARS OFF HIS PANTS! Angel drapes those over Je’Von before he KICKS Je’Von in the side! Angel stalks Je’Von to the corner, tags Berto, and they shove Je’Von for a double hip toss, TU LO SABE! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref defends it. Berto shoves Je’Von to ELBOW him down! Berto then DUMPS Je’Von down to be under the ropes.
Tag to Angel and Berto sits Je’Von up on the apron. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von down! Santos joins in with Los Garza as they soak up the heat, and Angel drags Je’Von back in. Angel stands Je’Von up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up behind him. Angel CLUBS away on Je’Von, mocks the clapping, and he THROWS Je’Von down. Angel KICKS Je’Von in the arm and Je’Von clutches his hand. Angel drags Je’Von to the ropes, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands. The ref counts, Angel steps off at 4, and Berto BOOTS Je’Von down. ANgel clamps onto Je’Von with an armlock and chinbar but Je’Von reaches for Fenix.
Angel keeps hold of Je’Von but Je’Von fires hands! SmackDown returns to single picture as Je’Von dodges the lariat, leaps, but Angel catches him! Angel puts Je’Von in a corner and through ropes. Angel pulls an arm and leg against the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von in the ribs! Je’Von slumps to the apron, and Angel sucker punches Fenix! Angel goes back for Je’Von but Je’Von fires body shots! Angel blocks a kick, slips around and Gory Especials! Angel walks over, tags Berto, and Berto slingshots, GARZA ESPECIAL! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Je’Von but Berto clamps onto him with a chinlock.
Je’Von endures, even as Berto traps an arm. Je’Von fights up, pries the hold open, and he arm-drags Berto! Je’Von leaps but Berto grabs a leg! Ethan laughs from commentary, but Je’Von kicks free to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Je’Von and Berto crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix rallies on Angel with forearms! Fenix then dodges a shot to springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fenix fires off KICKS on Berto, then fires up with Knoxville! Fenix uses Berto to jump up and RANA Angel! Fenix then goes corner to corner to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix fires hands, shoves Angel aside, then goes up.
Fenix springboards to QUEBRADA! Cover, Berto breaks it! Berto whips Fenix, Fenix goes Spider-Man, and Je’Von tags in! Fenix says HASTA LA VISTA, BABY! Angel is up, he pops Fenix up to KICK him! But Je’Von springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! All four men are down and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Angel and Je’Von crawl. Angel CHOPS Je’Von, Je’Von CHOPS back, and the fans “WOO~!” Angel CHOPS again, so Je’Von CHOPS again! Angel fires a forearm, Je’Von fires back, and they go around with forearm after forearm! The fans fire up, Angel CHOPS, a
nd Je’Von SUPER PUNCHES!
Je’Von runs, BOUNCY- NO, Angel makes it a SIT OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ethan is surprised and the fans rally up. Angel hoists Je’Von up top, tags Berto in, and they hoist Je’Von up even higher! But Fenix SHORYUKENS Angel down! Je’Von fires hands on Berto and SHOVES him down! Fenix climbs up to join Je’Von now, and ADIOS AMIGO DOUBLE STOMPS for Angel! Je’Von adjusts, to SUPER DUPER SWANTON onto Los Garza! Ethan says don’t get closer, keep this in the ring! He taunts both his challengers, Fenix and Je’Von stand down to put Los Garza in the ring. The fans rally up, but then Ethan CLOBBERS Fenix & Je’Von!
Ethan TOSSES Fenix over the desk! But Je’Von SUPERKICKS Ethan down! The fans fire up, Je’Von hurries in, and he dodges Angel! But Berto rolls Je’Von up, TWO!! Je’Von dodges Berto, rebound and RED DOT!! Berto is down, Angel gets up, but Je’Von DECKS him! Je’Von goes up, up, but Santos distracts the ref! Ethan SHOVES Je’Von down! The fans boo but Berto tags Angel! Los Garza hoists Je’Von up for M T Y!! Cover, Los Garza win!
Winners: Los Garza, by pinfall
All Ego grins as he screws over two of his three challengers, and now Legado is rolling towards Worlds Collide. But will these rudos get everything they deserve in LA?
The Wyatts speak.
“We won’t stop. Not until we get what’s owed.” A simple yet ominous threat, are the tag titles only the beginning?
Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration!
La Muneca held onto the WWE Women’s US Championship by smacking The Hot Mess in the face with a foot, and obviously Chelsea is not happy with it. But will Alba get payback on behalf of her fearless leader? Or will things only get uglier for the Green Regime?
The bell rings and Piper distracts Zelina so Alba can CLOBBER her! Alba fires off hands, then bumps Zelina off buckles. Alba bumps Zelina off more buckles, then more buckles! And then the fourth corner! Chelsea says Zelina should’ve never messed with her! Alba fireman’s carries but Zelina fights free. Zelina KICKS Alba, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Alba CLUBS Zelina. Alba whips, scoops, and- NO, Zelina swings through to RANA! Cover, ONE! Zelina headlocks but Alba fights up and lifts Zelina. Zelina holds on but Alba powers up and out to RUN Zelina over! The fans boo but Chelsea cheers as Alba stalks Zelina.
Alba ROCKS Zelina, whips her to ropes, but Zelina wheelbarrows and arm-drags! Zelina then runs up on Alba in the corner and rains down fists! Alba shoves Zelina away at three, but Zelina comes right back to rain down more shots! Alba stops Zelina at four now, but Zelina wants another go! Alba stops Zelina at four again, and RAMS her into the corner! The fans boo but Alba grins. Zelina BOOTS Alba, goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Alba tumbles out, Piper helps her up, and Zelina goes to the apron. Alba trips Zelina up, spins and ROCKS Zelina, then gets her up. Gory Especial, but Zelina flips through to arm-drag Alba onto ropes!
The fans fire up as Zelina dials up, but Chelsea is on the apron! The ref argues with Chelsea while Zelina redials, but Piper trips her up! The fans boo but Alba SUPERKICKS Zelina! Alba salutes to Chelsea, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Alba stands on Zelina’s hair while pulling Zelina’s arms! The ref reprimands, Alba steps off, and she drags Zelina up to suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zelina stays in this and Chelsea argues with the ref. The ref says the count is fair, so Alba clamps onto Zelina with a COBRA CLUTCH! Zelina endures, the fans rally, and Zelina fights up. Zelina fires body shots, Alba ripcords and wrenches to SUPERKICK! Zelina rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Both women fall and the fans fire up! Piper coaches Zelina, the fans rally up, and both women rise up. Alba is on Zelina and brings her to a corner, but Zelina buckle bumps Alba first!
The fans rally as Alba stalks Zelina, but Zelina bumps her off buckles again! Alba tries again, but Zelina ELBOWS Alba away. Then BOOTS her away! Zelina fires forearms on Alba, backs her down, then whips. Alba reverses but Zelina dodges to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Zelina LARIATS again! Zelina blocks a kick, ELBOWS Alba, but Alba blocks the saido. But Zelina keeps Alba from running, SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally for Zelina as she runs corner to corner, METEORA! Zelina pushes Alba out and goes up top! The fans cheer for some Latina Heat, and METEORA! Cover, TWO! Alba survives and Chelsea is relieved.
Zelina grows frustrated, but she goes back for Alba. Zelina reels Alba in, suplexes, but Alba blocks! Alba knees low, suplexes, but Zelina hits STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Alba is down, Zelina goes up, MOONSAULT FLOPS! Alba goes up now, and she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!?! Zelina survives and shocks Alba! Chelsea is upset again but Alba hurries to bring Zelina up. Alba KICKS Zelina out, and now Chelsea takes off her face mask?! She tells Piper to stand Zelina up! Piper does as told, and Chelsea takes a swing, but Zelina ducks! The face mask SMACKS Piper!! Chelsea is shocked, then furious, and then she chases after Zelina!
Zelina slips into the ring, Chelsea gets on the apron, but Zelina sends Alba at her! They almost collide, and then Zelina rolls Alba up! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
Chelsea tried so hard to screw Zelina over that she just screwed up her own team! Zelina survives again, will no one take down the Vega Administration?
The Miz pep talks Carmelo Hayes.
Melo looks good, and he just has to follow the plan. If Melo follows that plan, with no mistakes, they will win. Melo says he knows what he’s doing. Miz asks if he really does. Because Miz has taken Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for Melo. Does Melo understand? Miz gave up this chance at MITB for Melo! Miz has already done it twice! If Melo wins this match tonight, Miz will guide Melo to make sure “we are Mr. MITB.” Wait, we? Miz says, “Who do you think got you in this position?” Melo says Melo did. Melo appreciates everything Miz has done for him, from sacrificing to taking hits for him, and helping him win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
But nobody told Miz to do that. Melo will run the play exactly as Miz designed it, but what brought Melo to the dance is Melo’s talent. Melo goes out there and does it better than anybody else. Melo puts up 40 points on a bad day, because he is H1M. And Miz just needs to let Melo be H1M. They good? Miz nods, and Melo says okay, let’s do the thing. They are Melo Don’t Miz and they are Awes-H1M. Miz still nods, but he doesn’t seem genuinely happy. Will Miz let Melo be Melo? Even if that means letting H1M fail?
Giulia speaks.
“Throughout my entire career, even back when I started in Japan, I had one goal… It’s not to be ‘the best.’ Everyone says that. It’s hollow and empty. My goal is to be indisputable. You can love me or hate me, admiration or disgust, it means nothing. But I’m impossible to deny. My opponent doesn’t matter, because I only view them as an opportunity to build my legacy. Evidence you cannot refute. SmackDown, you will see. I will hit harder, move faster, think sharper, and conquer everything, just like I’ve always done. The question isn’t, ‘Who’s going to let me?” It’s, ‘Who’s going to stop me?'” She adds in Japanese, “If you can stop it, stop it.”
Will SmackDown and all of the WWE soon succumb to The Beautiful Madness?
Zelina returns backstage.
She refreshes for a second, but Giulia is there! And Giulia says she sees Zelina, but she also sees that title more. Zelina scoffs and leaves. Could Giulia be aiming for everything once she becomes Ms. Money in the Bank?
Damian Priest is here!
Knoxville cheers as The Archer of Infamy heads to the ring, victorious from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that brutal Steel Cage match. Priest grabs a mic to tell Tennessee, “Ever since I beat Drew on Saturday, it’s like I’m breathing in fresh air. Y’know, there was a time when I lived on the street, if we were beefing with another street, that war could go for years. But in WWE, you have a beef with somebody, you have a match and it’s over. But with Drew and I, we went well over a year, and that’s not normal. But we took that beef into a cage. Now, I can feel it, you can se it on my face, we went to war.
“At the end of this war, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, I gave him a Con-Chair-To, I walked out the door, and I put his ass in the past.” The fans cheer that. Priest says now he knows Drew is somewhere recovering from his scrambled brains, but he knows Drew is watching, so this is for Drew. “I still can’t stand yo ass. But the Drew McIntyre that stepped in that cage wasn’t the guy that hides behind his phone on social media. That was the old Drew, the warrior, and I appreciate that.” The fans applaud, and Priest says he won’t ask what is next for himself, he’ll just tell us all. And it is the same thing he wanted when he came to SmackDown: Championships!
The fans cheer, and Priest says this war with Drew cost him an opportunity at being in MITB. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eyes on a certain champion. Somebody who he has unfinished business with, and a champion he considers the most badass. The fans know that means Fatu, and he knows they know! Priest calls out Jacob Fatu! Priest respects Fatu. Priest knows where Fatu came from, what Fatu had to live through, how it feels to stand in this ring as a champion. Real talk, Priest is proud of Fatu, he congratulates Fatu, that’s real. But what Priest doesn’t respect is the crew that follows him around.
Wait, check that. What Priest doesn’t respect is the crew Fatu follows around. Priest knows at some point, they will get in this ring, handle business, but that’s for them. As for Fatu’s so-called family, if they wanna get involved, they can catch a fresh one, too. Priest won’t make it just a nickname or moniker, he wants this to be fact! Priest is and forever will be EL CAMPEON! The fans cheer that! But will the Archer soon take aim at the Samoan Werewolf? Well, speaking of, Fatu makes his way out here for tonight’s other Triple Threat Qualifier! Fatu nods to Priest, but if Fatu wins his way into the ladder match, will this showdown have to wait a little longer?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu!
SmackDown returns and El Idolo makes his entrance, followed by H1M. The bell rings and Miz distracts Fatu and Melo attacks! Fatu ELBOWS Melo away, Andrade is on Melo with forearms, and then Fatu adds a LARIAT! Fatu looms mover Melo but then turns to stare down Andrade. The fans rally as these two step up. Andrade fires forearms but Fatu SHOVES him to a corner. Fatu runs up, Andrade dodges then whips. Fatu reverses, Andrade goes up and out to then ROCK Fatu! Andrade goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE! Melo CLUBS Andrade, TOSSES him out, and then CLUBS away on Fatu!
Miz says that’s the way! Melo HAMMERS and CHOPS, then whips, but Fatu blocks! Fatu whips Melo, Melo springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Fatu sees Melo go outside. Fatu builds speed, but Miz trips him up! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Fatu drags Miz into the ring! Melo goes to roll Fatu up but Fatu stays up! Fatu YANKS Melo up, scoops, but Melo slips free! Melo SUPERKICKS and Miz DUMPS Fatu out! The fans boo but Melo builds speed, only for Andrade to LARIAT! The fans cheer, and now Miz sees he is in trouble. Fatu snarls, but Andrade DIVES, into a HAYMAKER!
Fatu then SUPERKICKS Miz! Fatu THROWS Miz into barriers! The fans fire up and Fatu grins. Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK against the barriers! The Samoan Werewolf has dominated three men at once and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Miz sputters and Fatu leaves him behind to go around the way. Melo is there to kick Fatu, RAM Fatu, but Fatu blocks another whip! Fatu ROCKS Melo and Melo staggers away. Fatu stalks Melo, Melo checks on Miz, but Fatu ROCKS Melo! Andrade goes after Fatu now, but Fatu THROWS Andrade into barriers! The fans cheer as Fatu lets Andrade go to the ring. Fatu brings Melo up, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him down. Fatu clears the desk off, but Melo CLUBS Fatu against the desk! Melo storms into the ring, brings Andrade up, but Andrade RAMS Melo into the corner! Andrade RAMS Melo, CHOPS Melo, then stalks Melo.
Andrade whips Melo, Melo reverses and Andrade hits buckles hard! Melo CHOPS Andrade down! Melo brings Andrade up, soaks up some heat, then makes it Latino Heat. But Andrade blocks the suplex to suplex Melo! Andrade hangs Melo out to dry, and Melo flops to the apron. Fatu is back but Andrade fires forearms first! Andrade whips, Fatu reverses, and Fatu BODY CHECKS Andrade! Fatu geeks out and the fans are with him while he stalks Andrade. Fatu drags Andrade up to HEADBUTT him into the corner. Fatu shoves Melo off the apron, then he HEADBUTTS Andrade again. Andrade sputters but Fatu is all fired up.
Fatu CHOPS Andrade, UPPERCUTS, and HEADBUTTS him again! Andrade CHOPS in return! SmackDown returns to single picture and Andrade CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fatu UPPERCUTS and Andrade falls back! Melo stomps Andrade in the corner, then tells Fatu to come on in. Fatu runs up, but Andrade gets away! Hip attack hits buckles! Melo ENZIGIRIS Fatu, Andrade runs to dodge Melo and FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Andrade kips up! Andrade has targets in the corners, and he rallies the fans with “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES for Fatu! CIEN- NO, Melo tilt-o-whirls and LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Melo runs to stomp away on Fatu, then he brings Andrade up. Fatu stands to CLOBBER Melo! Andrade SUPERKICKS Fatu! The fans rally, Melo brings Andrade up and springboards, but Andrade stops him at the ropes! SECOND ROPE SPANISH FLY! But Fatu SENTONS Andrade! The fans fire up as Fatu SENTONS Melo! Fatu drags Melo to a drop zone, then goes to the corner! The fans rally for Fatu as he goes up, up, but Andrade YANKS him down! Andrade goes up top, MOONSAULT DOUBLE!! Cover, Melo breaks it! The fans rally while all three are down! “This is Awesome!” as the three stir.
Melo brings Fatu and Andrade around, and he fires forearms on each of them. Andrade fires back on Melo, then Fatu UPPERCUTS! Andrade ROCKS Fatu, but Fatu UPPERCUTS Andrade! The fans rally as the three rise, and Melo springboards! DOUBLE FADE AWAY DDT!! Cover on Andrade, Fatu breaks it! Melo and Fatu stare down, and they run up! Melo dodges to hit the FIRST 48! Andrade adds a POISON-RANA! Melo slips around Andrade to KNEE and suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally for Fatu while Melo shakes his hands out. Andrade is on the apron but Melo rises.
Melo brings Andrade up but Andrade trips Melo! They go out to brawl, and Melo SUPERKICKS Andrade down! But Fatu SUPERKICKS Melo! The fans fire up for Fatu as he lines up a shot. Fatu gets the fans even more fired up, then he geeks out! Fatu runs in the full length, but Andrade & Melo move! HIP ATTACK through barriers!! The fans go nuts as Fatu crashes into the timekeeper’s area! Fatu sputters as SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Fatu stirs while Andrade and Melo go to the ring. They roll in, Melo grabs at Andrade and vice-versa. Melo fires a forearm, then goes back outside. Andrade goes to the opposite end while Melo looks under the ring. Melo makes Knoxville happy by bringing out a table! But then Melo makes them mad by dropping it! Melo goes after Andrade but Andrade ROCKS him first! Andrade brings out a chair! Andrade aims, but Melo dropkicks the legs out! Andrade crawls, Melo shakes his head, and he grabs the chair now. Melo aims, but Andrade kicks Melo low! Andrade and Melo go into the ring, and Andrade puts Melo in a drop zone.
Andrade goes up the corner, but Melo trips him up! Andrade is stuck up top and Melo hits the SLINGSHOT PLEX! Melo flexes, then decides to step through on the legs! Andrade cradles that, TWO! Melo and Andrade stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men fall and the fans look for Fatu. SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans rally, Melo and Andrade sit up, and Melo CHOPS! Andrade ROCKS Melo, then rolls away. Melo hurries to clamp onto Andrade with a facelock, but Andrade RAMS him into a corner! Andrade puts Melo up top but Melo fires forearms. Andrade drops back, Melo aims, but Andrade GAMANGIRIS!
The fans still want tables but Andrade climbs up to get Melo. They’re on the very top, but Fatu is back! Fatu makes the SUPER SPANISH FLY part ROCKER LAUNCHER!! The fans are thunderous as Fatu goes up now! SWANTON BOMB onto Melo! Cover, Andrade breaks it!! The fans rally up again and still want tables. Fatu runs at Andrade to SPLASH! Then Fatu runs at Melo, but Melo BOOTS him! Melo runs up, but into a pop-up! Melo fights the Samoan Drop, and Andrade adds the SHADOW ELBOW! But Melo makes it a ghost pin! Andrade adds a stack, TWO!!! Fatu survives the double cover, but here come Solo & JC!
The fans boo as Solo is here to coach Fatu up. Melo and Andrade trade forearms, then Melo dodges to springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Fatu breaks it! Fatu snarls, drags Melo up, and he HEADBUTTS Melo! Fatu finally notices Solo & JC, but Fatu puts Melo up top. Fatu CHOPS Melo, then he fireman’s carries Andrade. Fatu adds Melo to this, but Melo slips free. SAMOAN DROP for Andrade, and then Fatu goes to the corner. Solo says Fatu’s got this now! BEST MOONSAULT EVER FLOPS and Melo hits NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, ANDRADE BREAKS IT! Andrade underhooks Melo, THE MESS- NO, Melo RANAS through! Cover, TWO!!
Andrade has a cover, TWO! Melo has a cover, TWO! Andrade has it, TWO! Both men stand, SHADOW ELBOW! FIRST 48!! SHADOW ELBOW AGAIN!! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fatu crawls, Melo rolls to a corner, and Andrade stirs. Fatu rises, he brings Andrade up, IMPALER DDT! Then Fatu has Melo to RAM him into a corner. Fatu runs and HIP ATTACKS Melo! Andrade is up, Fatu hits him with another IMPALER DDT! Fatu puts Andrade in the drop zone, and he hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Solo says yeah, do that again! The fans boo but Fatu glares at Solo. JC says do what Solo is saying, Fatu!
But wait! Jimmy YANKS JC down, and SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up, and then Melo RAMS Fatu into Solo! Then FIRST 48! But Andrade rolls Melo into THE MESSAGE!! Cover, ANDRADE WINS!!
Winner: Andrade, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Solo just screwed things up for Fatu! Solo does his best to keep the peace between Fatu and JC, but the point is: Andrade is headed to Los Angeles! Will he make this El Idolo in the Bank?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton segues from congratulating Andrade for qualifying to welcoming in someone who already has qualified, but The Mega Star says, “My gawd. What is it with punching tickets around here? Everybody talks about punching tickets. WWE Instagram, punched tickets. Commentary, punched tickets. You’re talking about punched tickets. I guess I punched my ticket to MITB, it’s only eight days away. A few other guys who punched tickets, who are they? You got Andrade, you got Penta, you got what’s his name, Seth Rollins. You got Solo Sikoa! They’re all in it! They all punched their tickets!
“And everybody’s gonna be climbing that ladder, trying to get up, put everything on the line that they can. Now, if this was a one-on-one match, I’d go ahead and call my shot, and I’d say I’m gonna run up there, grab the case, and cash it in. But you gotta understand, this is my third year in a row, so I understand what this is. You can call me the vet in this match. Some people say maybe that Seth is the vet in this, but they would be wrong. For three years in a row now, you’re talking about the most robust and the most recent experience, YEAH. And what that means is now it’s anybody’s game. Anybody can come out with it, and I understand that.
“But with or without the case, what you need to understand is that the WWE title, the world title, they’re all in my future. With the way I’ve been running, at this point, they should be in my past, maybe even my present. Why don’tcha go ahead and punch that ticket? While we’re talking about-” Knight stops himself when he spots someone walking in. It’s Aleister Black! And Aleister says that win was supposed to be his. But he tells Knight, “You’re welcome, though.” The Dark Father lets the Mega Star shine, if only for now. Will LA win big in LA when we finally reach MITB?
Fatu and Solo regroup backstage.
Solo wants Fatu to listen. He was just trying to help. Fatu tells Solo to listen. For the last time, Fatu does not need his help! Fatu storms off, JC steps in, but Solo has nothing else to say. Is the Samoan Werewolf going to break away from this dysfunctional “family?”
Cody Rhodes is here!
Knoxville fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives fans along the ramp and the front row, and even signs autographs. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and he hears the fans chant his name. Cody fires the fans up more, then hears them sing, “Cody! Cody Rhooodes~! Cody! Cody Rhooodes~!” Cody says, “So, Knoxville! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that we could talk about the record crowd here this evening!” The fans cheer that, too! Cody says he loves them, too, thank you very much.
Cody says they could also talk about WrestleMania 41. The fans boo, but Cody says after WrestleMania 41, he went home, he drowned his sorrows, might’ve touched the “Tennessee Cough Syrup” a little bit, and he had a moment of doubt. He reached out to a friend. A friend who helps him prepare to wonderful audiences like this one here, or speaking to everyone at home. Cody asked him, “Was I a good champion?” The fans cheer for that, but Cody says the friend told him wasn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
The friend told him, “With everything that you faced here in the ring in front of all the fans, and with everything that you faced behind the scenes, being pulled in different directions, the waters that you had to navigate that no champion has ever had to navigate, yes, I feel that you were a good champion.” Cody says he felt good hearing that, it turned into a hopeful moment, the silver lining on a dark cloud. Cody looked back on his whole year. He thought about AJ Styles faking retirement to get the drop on him. Cody thought about his friend, Kevin Owens, sucker punching him against his bus while Cody’s family slept inside.
Cody thought about his boss, Triple H, who pushed Cody to the limit, and sees something in Cody that Cody doesn’t even see in himself. Cody even thought about The Final Boss, how he asked Cody for his soul, and the entire world wondering what that meant. As preposterous as that sounded, The Rock was 100% serious. No matter how many times Cody said no, the offer still stands. And Cody also thought about John Cena. The fans initially boo, but the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” starts up. Cody takes a moment, and then he says, “I thought about John Cena doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He forced me to make a choice, and I hesitated.
“I don’t know if John Cena is going to ‘ruin’ professional wrestling. But if he does, then I’m partially to blame. Now, I know, I’d love to say this to John Cena’s face. Not sure if he’s going to come out here right now, but if you are listening, if you are listening, Champ, I need you to know that I will never hesitate with you again!” The fans cheer that, and Cody says no matter how much Cena will tout the amount of days he has left, how much Cena will talk about what remains before he absconds with the WWE Championship and leaves all of us forever, that is NOT Cena’s expiration date! That is on the other side of Cody’s corneas, and it will burn Cena’s ass up!
The fans fire up for that, and Cody calms it down. Cody apologizes for that. This is his first night back on SmackDown, he is getting worked up. He thought so much about what he could do, what he could do for the fans. Hell, how about a surprise? The fans already “YEET! YEET! YEET!” so Cody says they’re hungry for it. Let’s yeet. Well, hold on, that’d be a very big surprise. That’d be the biggest surprise. That’d be Cody’s partner riding into battle for MITB, and hell YES he is here! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the World Heavyweight Champion, MAIN EVENT JEY USO! The fans go wild as Jey makes his way in from the pavilion!
The fans sing along with Day One Ish and bounce for that YEET! Jey makes his way down through the crowd to ringside, one verse at a time, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Jey joins Cody in the ring now, mic in hand. Cody and Jey hear the fans want an encore, so we get even more YEET! But then John Cena makes his entrance to ruin the fun! The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUUUCKS~!” even though he wears that University of Tennessee orange and white. Cena goes to the ring, towel draped over his head, then grabs a mic before he joins Cody and Jey in the ring. Cena hears the fans boo, and he says, “I’m upset, too. If it isn’t professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes!” Cena tells Cody he is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe, and that Jey is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe.
The fans boo but Cena says they both wanna be Cena so bad, it makes him sick! Cody wants Cena’s fame, Jey wants Cena’s money, but they will get neither because Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy! There is only ONE other human being in the WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty and respect, and he’s got the fortune, fame and followers to back that up! Surprise, losers! Cena’s partner is here, too! The fans boo already, because “EY YO~!” Logan Paul IS here! The Maverick swaggers his way out, and Cena gives him a proper introduction. “Oh, you mad? You’re mad because Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler?”
Cena says Logan doesn’t need to pay his dues, because he is paying Jey’s mortgage! Everybody in this building did NOT come to see Jey! They came to see John Cena and Logan Paul! Logan asks, “What the hell you crying about, Knoxville? Look! I could walk on water, and y’all would still find a way to tell me it’s because I can’t swim! John Cena speaks the language of Logan Paul, and that is the truth! The truth! It is right in front of you! You deny it all you want, but look around, you stupid, stupid, simple Tennessee people! This is a moment in history! All of you get to witness the moment that John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.
“And look, all of you will live long, pathetic, miserable lives. But at least you will get to say that you saw that.” The fans tell Logan to STFU, and Cena tells Logan to ignore it. Logan says yeah, yeah, they’re so ungrateful. They don’t know what’s good for them. There is one problem, though. This does seem too perfect. The problem is… Logan should be standing next to THE WWE Champion as THE World Heavyweight Champion! Logan should’ve been the one to leave Saturday Night’s Main Event with that title around his waist. But look at him, Jey. Jey got lucky. Jey got lucky! He knows it, Logan knows, it, the fans know it, CODY knows it!
Jey needed Cody to save him! When Cody interfered with the match cuz these two cheaters can’t do a single thing in this business without it being handed to them! “These two nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple.” Logan points to himself and says, “Self-made man!” He points to Cena and says, “Self-made man!” Five years ago, nobody every would’ve believed Logan Paul would be a WWE superstar. And they certainly never ever would’ve believed that he’d be teaming with the Greatest Of All Time! But look at Logan now. He’s not just a superstar, he is THE superstar! His time is now! Cena told us that his time is almost up!
Cena is the Last Real Champion, Logan is the inevitable face of the WWE! So Jey, Cody, at MITB, if you want some, come get some. Jey tells Logan they don’t gotta wait! They can handle this right now! UH UH, YEET!! The mics drop, Cena and Logan talk this out, and Logan wants to throw hands while Cena wants to leave. Cody asks what they’re arguing about. They gonna go to the back so Logan can polish Cena’s Peacemaker? Now it’s a fight! The fans fire up as the hands are flying! Logan TOSSES Jey, Cena picks Cody up! Cody slips free, Jey is back to SUPERKICK! Cody hits the DISASTER KICK! Cena bails out, Jey PLANCHAS out onto him!
Logan goes to the apron, slingshot and- NO, Cody dodges the “Snapshot” Lariat and Jey SUPERKICKS Logan! Then Jey sets Logan up for the CODE D!! The fans fire up as Cody picks up the WWE Championship! Will Cody and Jey make it through Logan and Cena to then clear a path for the American Nightmare’s redemption? Or will Cena & Logan ruin wrestling together?
My Thoughts:
A very good SmackDown, but maybe with some wheel-spinning. As fun as Chelsea Green continues to be, can’t we move on from her and Zelina? Or are we about to do that with tonight’s win over Alba and then Giulia confronting her? Ironically, that seems to give away Giulia isn’t winning MITB. Giulia had a good promo video right before but they undercut it by giving us that confrontation. That said, Giulia deserves to be all the champions, but I suppose starting with the Women’s US Championship would be a good route. Very good promo from Bianca and Naomi to not just have Bianca’s homecoming, but to keep the feud between them alive.
The Women’s Triple Threat had a slow start but it turned out to be a very good match. Great win for Naomi, and good promo from her, Tiffany and Alexa to tease potential MITB winners. Great stuff in the tag match to build Worlds Collide just a touch. We only got one moment of Berto being passive aggressive towards Santos, and then Ethan Page screwing the Faces over, but that was still enough for the North American Championship. Of course, it depends on how many fans watch not just Raw and SmackDown but also NXT so that the fans already understand the story. But as someone who does, I do appreciate they’re bringing NXT story onto SmackDown.
Good promo from Priest to give some shoot respect to Drew and Fatu, but Priest wanting after the US title kinda gave away what was happening with the Men’s Triple Threat. It was a great Triple Threat, but of course Solo & JC cost Fatu. That team is just one moment away from breaking up, and it might be at MITB when Solo just expects Fatu to help him win the briefcase and Fatu refuses. And Fatu VS Priest will still be awesome whenever it happens. Good promo from Knight, and a good bit from Aleister with him, which I suppose means that’s the next feud for them. Was kinda hoping for Aleister VS Nakamura but that really depends if Nakamura is sticking with WWE or going home to Japan via Pro-Wrestling NOAH as rumored.
R-Truth relapsing to talking to Lil’ Jimmy is certainly a choice. I kinda wish he’d keep up the “Ron Cena” stuff, or they’d let Jeff Cobb do his own John Cena bit from NJPW, but I guess some things in WWE still won’t change. And closing with a big promo segment was also certainly a choice. Cody still did a good job, and nice surprise to have Jey show up. Not sure they needed to take a commercial break for Jey’s entrance, especially when they were obviously going to let Jey do his YEET encore. And Cena really must be brainwashed to put Logan over as if Logan’s on par with peak Cena. But naturally a brawl happened and the Faces stood tall.
Don’t count this as go-home math yet, they could easily revisit this on Raw and even next week on SmackDown. Even then, I still feel like Jey and Cody should win at MITB to properly set up Cody VS Cena 2 at SummerSlam. Raw on June 9th is still the move for the World Heavyweight Championship, but there’s also Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, who knows if Jey makes it to SummerSlam as champion.
My Score: 8.7/10
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)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
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!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn’t, Dreamer and Delirious can’t book.
Well Trick Willie is the new TNA champ and this is the first iMPACT since his win…so let’s just hear him talk about it.
"TNA turned into TRICK-NA. Lets talk about it"@_trickwilliams #WWENXT
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/StU4pmi3oy
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Ratings:
- The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System: Rascalz win via Meteora – ***
- Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via…No Shit – Squash Garbage
- ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee: Lei wins via Spinning TKO – ** 3/4
- Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber: Mance wins via Hit the Pay Winda – Squash
- Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa: Team Robbie wins via shenanigans – **
- International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona: Maclin retains via KIA – ***
Results:
The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System
Octagon got jumped by The System earlier so Laredo is fighting alone. Another backstage jumping is getting a little dumb.
Laredo and Trey start. Typical Indie start with Simultaneous awful Dropkick spot and bad counters, AJ blind tag runs the smaller guys over, tags out to KC and the Rascalz instantly get the moment. KC is rocked, tags in Laredo and Laredo takes out the System before Lish gets on the apron and grabs Laredo. The referee kicks out Lish and Rehwoldt on commentary points out it’s a No DQ match so that’s dumb.
KC gets tossed at AJ, he catches him, Rascalz Dive and do their taunt as we go to commercial. We come back, Tennessee Whiskey into a KC tag in for the near fall on Laredo. Corner combo, Snapmare into Flip Forward Neck Breaker, KC is on a roll. AJ tags Laredo and starts talking crap to KC, they swerve and go Finger Poke of Doom, but it’s not a legal pin. Suddenly tornado attacks, System and Rascalz go for broke, AJ hits the Senton to break the eventual pin, Laredo counters AJ’s Chokeslam attempt. Trey clears out The System, Wentz sends himself and KC over and out, Laredo with a Corkscrew Moonsault, which looked cool but it’s the pile of morons waiting to get hit spot.
AJ hits the Down Payment on Laredo, but Trey blind tagged AJ. Meteora on AJ, Trey pins Laredo and Rascalz win.
Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali
Raj looks like shit in the gear he came down in…and he wrestles equivalently. I would rather anyone else comeback…give me Anarquia.
Ali murders Raj, Instant Dropkick, Rolling Neckbreaker, Corkscrew Standing Moonsault, it’s not close. Raj tries to counter things but Ali Bellclap, a little Duck the left, connect the right. Raj even does a terrible looking Punch Combo, he’s in bad shape, a bad looking Ushigoroshi, Raj with a sloppy looking something, 450 ends it.
Fire Raj as quickly as you brought him back. You don’t need a comedically pathetic job guy when the roster is like 4 guys getting pushed and everyone else sucks. Stop being stupid. Ali still hates women too.
This Injury Report is the dumbest segment in the history of wrestling. Stop treating fake shit as “serious business”.
ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee
ASH mocks karate stuff, Lei throws a few Rising Crane kicks as ASH bails and then things slow down a little. But a Pump Kick, Sliding Kick and Low Dropkick cause ASH to cower and claim her tooth broke. It’s a bait to pull Lei into the turnbuckles and them get in a few stomps. Ash keeps Lei in the corner, Suplexes her ankles into the buckles and then Ash throws a few Booty Shots/Hit Attacks then starts a grounded stretch, Lei Headscissors her down, still sells the hips and ankles, but dodges and fires, combination strikes into the 10 Count Down Strikes. T-bone Suplex, into the pinfall, for only two.
Cheapshot into Running Meteora from ASH for two. Ash goes for the Miz Yes Kicks and Lei No Sells and asks for more. Gorgeous Capture Suplex into Thunder Struck and TKO with flair. My baby has a better finish now! Yay!
Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber
Hannifan cursing and being pissed at Trick for not even showing but is more entertaining than a squash match. Not that Mance’s offense is bad, but 2 out of 3 job matches is stupid.
.@milanmiracle and @AriannaGraceWWE make history as the first father/daughter tag team in TNA!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/3s8OhtYFPv
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa
Marella tries to tie up with Robbie, but he bails and tags out to Victoria so Arianna comes in and aside from Alicia Fox’s silliness, the tie up was decent with Arianna and Victoria. Tessa interferes and the Referee throws her out. Victoria comes back in and aside from a slight miscommunication with how Arianna does her punches, Alicia Fox is making her look…pretty good. Transition moves, okay brawling and Arianna looks amazing in her outfit.
Rob and Santino distract the referee and Victoria hits a Figure Four into her Northern Lights Suplex, only for 2. Arianna finally Back Body Drop to find the tag, Santino and Rob, Santino does his split dodge into the Standing Headbutt, Arianna Cross Body onto Victoria. Rob pulls out the ref, then shoves the ref into Santino, Santino into the steps and Arianna attack but Alicia and Lish, the fix is in, Arianna eats the pin.
International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona
A few quick brawl moves, Shoulder Tackles, Strikes, Back Breakers, Cardona does get dumped out and eats a SCUD. Maclin bounces Cardona’s face off the apron and hits an Elbow off the apron to keep Cardona reeling, but a dodged tackle sends Maclin into the steps. Cardona tries to Piledriver Maclin on the ramp, but Back Drop counter, into commercial.
Formulaic commercial etiquette of Cardona still in control, throws Maclin into the ropes, Diving Shoulder Tackle lays both dudes out and they get up by 8. Fighting Spirit spot, Cardona hits ropes and gets hit by Maclin twice, Thesz Press, Ground and Pound, Back Elbow and Olympic Slam has Maclin rolling. Splash into Lariat for two. Maclin has been all gas no brakes. Cardona tries to take a few shortcuts that turns into a Straight Jacket Takedown. Cardona to the top, Maclin cuts him off, Superplex spot. 1-2-kick out!
Maclin goes topside for a Jar Headbutt, Cardona hits the ropes so Maclin crashes into the corner, 2 Reboots connect, the third gets caught, counter into Busaiku Knee, Jar Headbutt. In and out, Cardona uses the middle rope for the Low Blow, Killswitch from Cardona but Maclin kicks out. Cardona dodges and shoves Maclin towards the ref, he puts the brakes on, Radio Silence! 1-2-Kick out! Maclin catches a top rope move, Power Bomb, Corner Splash, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs, KIA and Maclin retains!
Overall Score: 4.5/10
Boring paint by numbers show, no Trick, System has one move, Robert Stone is a scumbag, too long to introduce new girls, lots of throw away segments and Rosemary sets up YET ANOTHER Monster’s Ball match. These aren’t interesting when there’s one every 3 months. So we can have terrible Monster’s Ball matches quarterly, Barbed Wire Massacre and Clockwork Orange House of Fun…BUT NO LOCKDOWN!?
Go home TNA, you’re drunk.
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)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
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!
4 Corners Podcast: Blown Off Course
Dave and Tunney break down the Conference Finals in the NHL and NBA, discuss the NFL going to the Olympics,...
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Dave, Patrick, and Tunney break down the NHL and NBA Playoffs and a pretty stunning decision from the MLB Commissioner's...
4 Corners Podcast: Never Over Until Its Over
Dave and Patrick break down the latest developments, scores, and stories from the NBA and NHL Playoffs.
4 Corners Podcast: Playoffpalooza
Dave and Tunney discuss all the awesome action that has been going on in the NHL and NBA Playoffs!
4 Corners Podcast: Is It Drafty In Here?
Patrick and Dave discuss the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders, and the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
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The Nerds recap trailers for Jurassic Park: Rebirth and Welcome to Derry, discuss delays to Avengers movies, and pay their...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (5/23/25)
What's with all the glowing?
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The Nerds discuss trailers for Ironheart and Superman, talk about the greatness that was Andor Season 2, break down casting...
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Disney makes a controversial decision about where it is building its 7th theme park. Plus, loads of trailers, Thunderbolts* news,...
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June will be electric!
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Join DJ, Rob and Jason every week as they give their "Mindless" takes on Pro Wrestling and much, much more!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (5/30/25)
The greatEST SmackDown!
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn't, Dreamer and Delirious can't book.
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/29/25)
B Block, FINAL ROUND!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (5/29/25)
Is ROH ready for the GORE?
Mitchell’s WWE Evolve Results & Report! (5/28/25)
THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (5/28/25)
Dynamite in the desert!
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/27/25)
A Block, FINAL ROUND!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (5/27/25)
Will NXT still be Absolute?
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/25/25)
Round 8, all together!
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Coverage6 days agoMitchell’s WWE Battleground Results & Report! (5/25/25)
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