Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Report! (2/13/18)

Published

6 years ago

February 13, 2018

Steven Mitchell

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Fifth Cruiserweight Championship Tournament First Round match: Akira Tozawa VS Mark Andrews; Andrews wins and advances to the second round.
Sixth Cruiserweight Championship Tournament First Round match: Tony Nese VS Drew Gulak; Gulak wins and advances to the second round.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Cruiserweight Championship tournament’s opening round hits the halfway point.

Cedric Alexander, TJP, Kalisto and the shocking entry of Roderick Strong have all advanced to the second round. Now we begin the second half to see which other four superstars will join them. Another former Cruiserweight Champion will battle a member of the WWE’s United Kingdom Division, and PowerPoint pals will be forced to put their friendship aside. But in the end, they all want one thing: to win the vacated Cruiserweight Championship as a Wrestlemania Moment!

Fifth Cruiserweight Championship Tournament First Round match: Akira Tozawa VS Mark Andrews!

The Stamina Monster once dethroned the King of the Cruiserweights to become champion, while the High-Fiving, Stage-Diving Welshman would like his first taste of WWE gold period. Will Tozawa keep out the crossover competitor on this Road to Wrestlemania?

Quick backstage interview with Mark Andrews.

What does it mean to him to come all the way from the UK to compete for this opportunity tonight? He’s really excited because everyone from around the world, from the UK to Japan, have been talking about 205 Live. Andrews is psyched to be part of it now, to high-five and stage-dive all the way to the Grandest Stage of Them All: Wrestlemania! Especially if it means he can become the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

Andrews makes his entrance and we have our match.

The two circle with the bell, and Tozawa starts up the “HAH! HAH!” battle cry. He and Andrews tie up, Tozawa gets the waistlock. They circle around, Andrews gets the headlock takeover but Tozawa gets the headscissors. Andrews holds onto the headlock and the two stand up, but then Tozawa rolls and floats over to a cover, TWO. The two stand off, and the fans applaud. Tozawa and Andrews circle again, Andrews getting the single leg takedown into a knee wrench toehold. Andrews deepens the bend and twist with a toe ‘n’ ankle while keeping the other leg down. 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick watches backstage as Tozawa works to free that trapped leg.

Andrews keeps twisting and Tozawa keeps enduring. Tozawa crawls for ropes but Andrews drags him away to add on another twist. Andrews keeps Tozawa grounded, but Tozawa gets free, so Andrews stands up to wrench the arm and wrist. Tozawa rolls and reverses the hold, starting up the “HAH! HAH!” at the same time. Tozawa spins Andrews to a waistlock, but Andrews spins out to reverse the armlock. Andrews grounds Tozawa again, and then wraps Tozawa up in an Octopus Stretch!

He bends the free arm back and back, looking up at the Wrestlemania sign for motivation. Tozawa starts working his way out, but Andrews easily shifts into a sunset flip, TWO! They get up, Andrews arm-drags Tozawa a couple times, but Tozawa blocks the third with pure strength. Tozawa brings Andrews back up, Andrews slips around him and gets that arm-drag hat trick! They both get back up, Tozawa kicks in low. He runs, Andrews ducks and Tozawa jumps over for the sunset flip, but Andrews back-flips out of it into a low dropkick! Cover, ONE, but Andrews keeps his cool. He stomps Tozawa, then drags him back up. Tozawa frees himself and chops Andrews stiff in the chest. Andrews chops back, and we have a chop fight. They go back and forth, Tozawa fakes a chop to get the jab!

Andrews staggers to a corner and Tozawa comes over to stomp a “HAH! HAH!” mudhole into him. The fans join in, even as Tozawa backs off at the ref’s count. He brings Andrews up and out for a snapmare, then runs for the Penalty Kick and back senton! Cover, TWO, but Tozawa keeps his cool. He goes after Andrews in a seated abdominal stretch, giving Andrews a taste of his own medicine. Andrews slips out but is brought back down, and Tozawa stomps on Andrews. They go to a corner and Tozawa brings Andrews up for more chops. Tozawa ax handles Andrews a couple times, then snapmares him into another form of the seated abdominal stretch. Fans slowly build to a rally and Andrews pries himself free again. Andrews fights back with forearms, one after another, and Tozawa sits down. Andrews brings him back up for a European Uppercut, but Tozawa knees low. Tozawa throws Andrews, but Andrews responds with a surprise 619!

Andrews takes aim while Tozawa staggers away, and springboards for a big flying crossbody!

Cover, TWO, and now Andrews feels some frustration. He kicks Tozawa while he’s down, then puts Tozawa’s leg back in the spinning toehold. Andrews now puts Tozawa in the Indian Deathlock to go right after the knees.

Tozawa endures, then chops Andrews in the chest. Andrews chops back while maintaining the hold. When Tozawa refuses to tap, Andrews stands up and pulls him out of the hold to go back after the arms. Andrews moves back into the Octopus Stretch but Tozawa resists stronger this time, letting out the “HAH! HAH!” Tozawa gets free, fights back with back elbows, but Andrews backs him down with kicks to the leg. Andrews whips but Tozawa reverses, Tozawa gets Andrews in the huricanrana! Then he hits Andrews with a screaming Shining Wizard!

Tozawa doesn’t stop there, he puts Andrews in position and with fans echoing “HAH! HAH!”, Tozawa climbs up up top. He takes aim, but Andrews slips out of the ring. Tozawa doesn’t complain, he just hops down and builds speed to DIVE!

The Tozawa Torpedo downs Andrews and the fans fire up. Tozawa puts Andrews back in the ring, covers, TWO! Frustration won’t stop Tozawa, he gets up and drags Andrews back over to a corner. The fans “HAH! HAH!” again as Tozawa climbs back up top. Tozawa takes aim again but Andrews stands up. Andrews runs over, Tozawa jumps over, and they both go corner to corner for Andrews to hit double knees in a corner! Then he brings Tozawa out for the Northern Lights suplex, and Andrews rolls through for a standing corkscrew moonsault!

TWO, and Andrews feels frustration growing. He catches his breath and cools off before bringing Tozawa back up. Andrews grabs Tozawa in a full nelson, but Tozawa arm-drags out of it. Tozawa back kicks, swings, slips under, blocks and hits the saido suplex! He crawls to a cover, TWO! Tozawa gets up again and brings Andrews up for big forearms. He “HAH! HAH!” with each one as he drops Andrews to a knee, then roars before running into Andrews’ mule kick. Andrews kicks Tozawa again, then runs only to run into Tozawa’s boot! Tozawa runs, Andrews slips past him, comes back to tilt-o-whirl into Stun Dog Millionaire! Cover, TWO! Both men are down from exhaustion, but Tozawa rolls himself away slowly. Andrews sits up and sees Tozawa in the corner. He walks over to hoist Tozawa up, keeping him there with a chop. Andrews climbs up, goes for the Super Steiner, but Tozawa blocks with more of that strength! Tozawa lifts Andrews up powerbomb style, but Andrews hits SUPER STEINER after all!

He crawls to the cover, TWO!! The frustration boils over, Andrews can’t believe that didn’t work. But he sees Tozawa in position, and hurries to the corner again. Andrews climbs up and takes aim at Tozawa. Shooting Star, but he has to bail out as Tozawa evades! Tozawa hits the spinning roundhouse! Tozawa goes for La Mahistrol, but Andrews counters with his own cover! ANDREWS WINS!!

And Tozawa’s face says it all, this is a major surprise!

It was fast and it was fair, there’s no way around it. Andrews points to Tozawa to give props and respect, but he also points to the Wrestlemania sign. Can Andrews make it all the way to the end and become a crossover Cruiserweight Champion?

Backstage interview with Jack Gallagher.

Gentleman Jack will face the Pakistani Prince, Mustafa Ali, next week as part of the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament’s opening round. And he’s absolutely delighted to hear it. However, before he can continue, 205 Live GM Drake Maverick enters.

Spud says hello to Dasha then compliments Gallagher’s suit. “John Phillips, London. I have two myself.” That aside, Spud questions Gallagher thinking that’s “appropriate attire in a WWE ring.” Because Maverick doesn’t. As he told others before, this is a new 205 Live. Next week, Gallagher better be here in proper wrestling attire. Spud does say Gallagher is one of the best in the Cruiserweight Division today, and perhaps even in the entire WWE. “So sort yourself out, mate.” Spud says bye to Dasha before taking his leave, leaving Gallagher with much to consider. Will Gallagher be seen back in his old trunks again starting next week?

205 Live announces next week Cruiserweight Championship Tournament matches.

The Privileged Persian Lion will take on “NXT’s Best Kept Secret”, Buddy Murphy!

A former NXT Tag Team Champion as well as fiance to the Goddess of Raw, Murphy does admit that losing the tag titles brought him crashing down in the ranks. However, he pulled himself up and looked himself in the mirror to say, “That’s who I was. Now it’s time to create who I’m going to be.” Spud gave him the call and that sparked a fire in Murphy to get back in championship shape. Training to get under 205 has been “the hardest thing I’ve possibly ever done in my life”, especially since he’s normally competed over that weight. Spud even went to the Performance Center to hold Murphy’s official 205 Live Cruiserweight Division weigh-in. Murphy stepped up to the scale, and his official weight…

At 204.4 lbs, Murphy narrowly makes it in! But that was just step one. Murphy vows that in step two, the Cruiserweight Championship tournament itself, he will step over everyone else to “walk down the ramp at Wrestlemania.” Can the Best Kept Secret break out into the best spotlight of them all?

Sixth Cruiserweight Championship Tournament First Round match: Tony Nese VS Drew Gulak!

Though friends under “Team PowerPoint” and a certain certified train, the Philly Fury and the Premier Athlete were each cut to the heart with comments from the 205 Live GM. Tonight they battle to not only see who is the better, but who is more deserving of the Cruiserweight Championship. Will their friendship become stronger, or crumble apart, with gold on the line?

The bell rings and the two circle with intensity in their eyes. Gulak offers a handshake of respect, but Nese kicks it away. Nese is too focused on the title for there to be friendship and respect, so Gulak just comes at him to grapple. Nese powers Gulak down to the mat, then flexes to show off the peaks. Gulak gets up and they circle again. Nese lunges but Gulak catches him with a shoulder to the abs, then a takedown. Gulak floats over to an armlock, then a chinlock that grinds and thrashes Nese to the mat. Nese rolls and covers, Gulak bridges at ONE. Gulak brings Nese back up to a deep neck wrench then a forearm grinding on the face. Nese gets up, takes Gulak down and goes for a toehold but Gulak quickly counters and shifts to an armbar, which Nese quickly blocks by clasping hands. The referee gets down low to check shoulders while Nese tries to power Gulak to a cover. Gulak counteracts with a palm on Nese’s face. Nese gets to his feet and grabs a leg but Gulak uses the other leg to sweep and then get the mount. He pushes Nese back to a cover, ONE, and Nese stands up to go after Gulak’s leg again. Nese drags Gulak and goes for a half-crab, but Gulak kicks him away with his free leg.

Nese staggers to a corner while Gulak gets up. Gulak runs in for a big running haymaker, then he whips Nese corner to corner. Nese stops himself short and back elbows Gulak away, to then jump up and jump back! Gulak gets under the corner moonsault, but Nese lands on his feet. Gulak runs at Nese but Nese Matrix handsprings to evade. Nese mule kicks Gulak then kene lifts, roundhouses and sweeps, cover, TWO! The fans applaud this exchange even as Nese stomps and kicks Gualk while he’s down. Gulak stares up at him defiantly so Nese keeps kicking. Nese brings Gulak up and goes for a suplex but Gulak body shots back. Gulak goes to hip toss, but Nese blocks and rolls Gulak to the mat. Nese puts Gulak’s legs in a sort of Figure Four while also trapping an arm in a unique combination of holds.

Gulak endures this unique submission, and fans actually rally for him! Nese rolls him to a cover, TWO, but Nese keeps on him by throwing him out of the ring. Nese takes aim, slingshots over, but Gulak moves so Nese lands on the apron. Gulak rushes Nese to sweep the legs but Nese cartwheels over to land on the ground and rock Gulak with a left forearm!

Gulak falls down and Nese leaves him out there, but then Gulak gets right back up to drag Nese right back out. Nese ducks the clothesline to throw in a kick, but Gulak blocks to put the leg on the apron to back suplex Nese to the ground!

Nese hits with a thud as the ref starts a ring count. Gulak gets in but Nese only writhes as the count gets to 5. The count climbs and Gulak seems satisfied to accept this, but then he sees Nese get up. Nese beats that count but Gulak is right on him, covers, ONE. Gulak clubs Nese then springboard stomps on him from both sides. Gulak grabs Nese’s leg and DDT’s the foot into the mat to jam the ankle. Cover, TWO, but Gulak shifts right into an armlock on Nese’s dominant left arm. Nese endures, and wills his way back up. He fights back with body shots, but Gulak rams a knee into his head. Gulak runs, but Nese blasts him with a running back elbow! Both men are down, but Nese drags himself to ropes. Gulak walks over but Nese blocks the punches to counter punches. Gulak keeps trying, but now Nese hits him with a cravat knee strike, then runs for a boot to the mouth! Nese keeps going, getting the staggered Gulak with the windmill kick! Gulak goes down but fans fire up with Nese. Nese runs into the corner and hits Gulak with a spinning back elbow! He keeps going, and brings Gulak down with a leaping lariat!

Cover, TWO! The frustration builds but Nese brings Gulak up and around. He wants a pumphandle but Gulak elbows out. Gulak whips but Nese slips under to pumphandle after all! But Gulak slips out and shoves Nese to ropes, then jumps but Nese shoves him down! Cover, TWO! The two men are exhausted but still stirring. Fans build to a rally for both men, Gulak hits Nese with a body shot but then Nese lifts Gulak in a fireman’s carry, for a gutbuster drop!

Cover, TWO, and the frustration grows. Nese glares down at Gulak, then drags him up again. Gulak fights back with body shots and a shove, but Nese rocks him with another left forearm. Nese runs but Gulak follows and responds with a dropkick! Gulak grabs Nese for a wicked single-leg suplex!

Cover, TWO! Gulak is surprised, but he actually grins. He dares Nese to get up for more, but Nese fights back with lefts and rights. Nese staggers Gulak again, then kicks him while he’s down. Now Nese dares Gulak get up as he keeps kicking and kicking. Nese roars, but Gulak grabs him by the beard! Gulak slaps Nese across the face again and again! Then Gulak shovels Nese up onto his shoulders, for the Electric Chair Drop!

Bridging cover, TWO!! Nese crawls to the ropes, but Gulak stalks him from behind. Gulak grabs Nese into the guillotine, with body scissors!

Nese endures the squeeze, tries to power out and reach ropes, but Gulak grabs that reaching hand to bring it back in. However, Nese turns that wristlock around into his own, so that he can suplex Gulak up. Gulak resists and brings himself down to land on the apron. The ref calls for a ropebreak, but instead, Gulak tries to suplex Nese to the outside! Nese lands, and breaks free. He swings a kick but Gulak blocks, so Nese sweeps the legs, falling Gulak to the apron! Gulak tumbles down, Nese builds speed, to FLY!

The Premier Athlete brings Gulak down in clear defiance of #Drewtopia rules. Not only that, but Nese puts Gulak in the ring to climb to the top rope! Nese jumps for the 450, but flops when Gulak rolls away! Gulak hurries up to his feet, goes for the dragon sleeper, but Nese slips out and under, pumphandle into the Michinoku Driver!

TWO!! Somehow Gulak survives, and Nese’s frustration builds again. Both men slowly stir as the fans build to a rally. Nese stands up but Gulak hits first with headbutts to the ribs. Gulak rushes in but into Nese’s knee. Nese brings Gulak over to a corner, and gives him a reverse powerbomb into the top buckle. Gulak is dazed as Nese waits down below. Nese rolls Gulak, but Gulak has that arm, so Nese deadlifts Gulak to powerbomb him all the way into the adjacent corner’s buckles!

Gulak is down, but Nese gets himself up. He wills himself to stand up while Gulak is still dazed. The knee pad comes down, Nese runs to the other corner and back, but Gulak avoids the Premier Kneese by rolling out of the ring. Nese goes out to fetch Gulak, but Gulak springs to life to resist. Nese still slaps Gulak across the face, then puts him into the ring. Gulak grits his teeth and his eyes fill with fire as he blasts Nese off the apron and to the announce desk! Now Nese is dazed as he falls to the floor. The referee has to check on Nese, which gives Gulak time to recover in the ring. Gulak won’t let Nese get off easy, shouting at him, “We finish what we start!” He throws Nese into the side of the announce desk! The referee reprimands Gulak but Gulak keeps going, throwing Nese even harder into the announce desk!

He puts Nese into the ring, then glares up at the Wrestlemania sign before reentering the ring. Gulak runs, to flip Nese upside-down with a lariat! The referee tells Gulak to stay back as he checks on Nese, but Gulak refuses! He picks Nese right up to throw him right back down with a powerbomb!

And then deadlifts him for another! The referee checks on Nese again as Gulak roars. Gulak drags Nese up, for the Gu-Lock Dragon Sleeper, complete with body scissors!

The referee calls it, Nese is out cold! Gulak wins, but he’s still burning with rage aimed at the Premier Athlete.

Perhaps Nese regrets not accepting the handshake at the start now, because it might have gained him so mercy here tonight. With this new fire lit inside him, can Gulak rip his way through the tournament and become the new Cruiserweight Champion at Wrestlemania?

My Thoughts:

A damn good episode right here. The opening package was great and the quick interview with Andrews just before going out was also great. The best thing about the tournament these last couple weeks has been the surprise factor, where the win goes to the unexpected choice. I was pleasantly surprised last week when still-NXT-superstar Roderick Strong won, and I am again pleasantly surprised when WWE UK superstar Mark Andrews won tonight. The Cruiserweight Division has been needing a bit of crossover with other Divisions, so starting small like this is actually a very big thing. The best Andrews could do, in my estimation, is get to the semi-finals, but depending on how the bracket works out (still haven’t seen one from WWE) he might be used to help bolster one of the other favorites. He might even face the winner of the other match from tonight, in the incredible rough and tumble main event. Before that, I also enjoyed Spud now getting on Gallagher’s case in terms of his misuse of character. If it means Gallagher returns to his rainbow-striped trunks, I’m actually kinda for this continued reprimanding of the Heel Cruiserweights. Then, that main event, WOW. Great in-ring stuff with even greater character development. Commentary did a great job reminding us of the back story here without mentioning Enzo. I loved it when Gulak slapped Nese again and again, very much like what Oney Lorcan in NXT would do. There was a great visual aesthetic with Nese and Gulak, too, with the red vs blue, a classic trope of opposites that still parallel and rival each other (just look at Raw and SmackDown). I imagine this might’ve been what their blow-off would’ve been like had the ‘Zo Train finished the way it was meant to. Either way, Gulak himself might not make it to the semifinals but he and whoever he’s up against will put on great matches in the coming rounds.

My Score: 8.5/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Coverage

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (5/2/24)

The Queen is chasing the crown!

Published

3 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Will the One and Only become the #1 contender?

Queen Aminata wants after Athena and the ROH Women’s World Championship, but she will still earn her way to a shot, starting with a match tonight!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Grounds: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Qrown; wins and
Queen Aminata VS Robyn Renegade; wins.
Aaron Solo VS Jon Cruz; wins.
Nyla Rose VS ???
Toa Liona w/ The Mogul Embassy VS ???
Six Man Tag: The Dark Order VS ???
The Infantry VS The Outrunners; win(s).

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

AEW Coverage

Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (5/1/24)

Jay White is on a Rampage!

Published

23 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Will Angel Dorado breathe with the Switchblade?

After battling in the Casino Gauntlet, and then over the Unified AEW & ROH Trios Championships, Jay White and Dante Martin are on a Rampage to go 1v1!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Jay White w/ The Gunns VS Dante Martin w/ Top Flight; White wins.
Rocky Romero VS Kyle O’Reilly; Kyle wins.
Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis VS London Lightning; canceled due to time constraints.
AEW TBS Championship Manitoba Massacre: Willow Nightingale VS Skye Blue; Willow wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Rampage opens with Kenny Omega down in the ring.

As seen in the closing moments of Dynamite, The Cleaner returned home, only to be betrayed by The Young Bucks as they continue to become tyrants of AEW. FTR is with Omega, as is a medic, given the vulnerable and life-threatening state of his diverticulitis. The Elite leave, and Omega is helped to a stretcher. The fans cheer in support of Omega as he’s wheeled out, will he be alright physically and emotionally?

Wait, as the stretcher reaches the ambulance backstage, The Elite return to attack FTR! Matt & Nick mug Dax while Okada & Jack are after Cash! Omega is powerless to help the guys who just helped him! Now Okada throws uppercuts into Dax while Jack THROWS Cash! Then Dax is sent crashing into railing! But then The Elite all surround Omega! Omega is writhing in pain while Matt says he loves Omega to death. But this is just business, Kenny. They’ve gotta change the world, right? The world needs them more than it needs him. They SHOVE the stretcher over!! Omega falls right off, and then Matt almost mockingly says for someone to check on him.

Medics hurry to help Omega but have to be careful. Have this new and downright evil Elite all but forced Omega into retirement?

Jay White w/ The Gunns VS Dante Martin w/ Top Flight!

Don’t adjust your screens or worry about your eyes, Bullet Club Gold is carrying three sets of belts. That’s because they’ve brought back the classic AEW World Trios Championship belts while still parading around with the hot pink Acclaimed trios belts and the ROH World Six Man belts. But all the hardware aside, this battle is because The Switchblade and Angel Dorado were part of the wild Casino Gauntlet, and they want to settle the score! Will Dante earn his trio a golden ticket back to a trios title match? Or will Winnipeg soon Breathe With The Switchblade?

The bell rings and Dante CLOBBERS White to a corner! Dante fires off forearms over and over and over, but the ref backs him off. White bails out but Dante pursues to CHOP! Dante CHOPS again, but White knees low! White CHOPS now, then brings Dante around. Dante blocks a chop to CHOP back! Dante puts White in the ring, runs up, but White knees low again. White stomps Dante in a corner, then JABS, JABS and CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” and White whips. Dante rolls off White’s back, ducks ‘n’ dodges to then flip and RANA! White bails out again but the fans fire up with Dante. Dante goes out after White again to CHOP!

White shoves Dante but Dante flips up and into the ring! Dante DECKS White off the apron, then DIVES! Down goes White and the fans fire up with Dante! Dante stalks White around the way, brings him around, but White knees low. White CLUBS Dante, whips, but Dante goes up and backflips off the apron! Dante then JUMP KNEES White down! The fans fire up and Dante puts White in the ring. Dante runs corner to corner, but White puts him on the apron. Dante GAMANGIRIS, springboards, but White YANKS him down! Dante hotshots off ropes, calls for the ref, and White says call it off! The ref checks on Dante and we go picture in picture.

White mockingly asks if Dante’s done while Dante checks his face. White brushes the ref aside, stands Dante up, and CHOPS him to the corner! White CHOPS again, and Dante sputters. White brings Dante up again, whips corner to corner, and Dante rebounds into a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! White keeps cool as he stomps Dante’s leg. White stomps and stomps, but Dante kicks at White from below! Dante goes to ropes but White gets the legs, ROPE GUILLOTINE! Cover, TWO! Dante is still in this and White is frustrated. White steps through to tie up the legs, into the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Then White swags his way back into the MUTA LOCK!

Dante endures, flails, but White fishhooks the face! The ref reprimands, but then Dante CLAWS White’s face! White lets Dante go and protests, but the ref says he just did that to Dante! White goes back, Dante cradles, TWO! Dante victory rolls, TWO!! White escapes, kicks low, but Dante dodges the chop to CHOP! CHOP! And run, but into an UPPERCUT! White UPPERCUTS in a corner, reels Dante in and scoops, for a SHOULDER BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Dante survives again and White is growing frustrated. White clamps onto Dante and pulls hair to dig him into a knee! Then it’s a chinlock, and Dante endures.

Rampage returns to single picture, the fans rally and Dante fights up. Dante moves around but White CLUBS him! White snapmares and clamps on another chinlock. Dante endures again and the fans rally back up. Dante fights up again, throws body shots, but White CLUBS him! White keeps on the cravat, Dante throws hands, but White CHOPS! White snapmares but Dante rolls through and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Dante pounds the mat while the ref starts a standing count. White and Dante rise, White runs up but Dante flips up and over! Dante CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS again!

Dante whips White, White reverses and runs in, but Dante slips out to go up and around! GAMANGIRI! Dante springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! White survives but Dante throws off his elbow pads! Dante snarls and storms up on White. Dante gets a leg, stands White up, but White has ropes! The ref counts but Dante clotheslines White up and out! The fans fire up with Dante and he goes out after White. Dante puts White back in fast, and then storms up, only for White to clinch and URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Dante survives, White shakes his head, and White clamps on a SLEEPER!

White drags Dante up, for the SNAP- NO, Dante throws elbows! White CHOPS Dante, CHOPS him again, and CHOPS him again! White eggs Dante on but Dante fires forearms! Dante CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! White CLAWS the eyes! The ref reprimands, White THROWS Dante out, but Dante is on the apron! White storms up, Dante HOTSHOTS him! Dante springboards again, to NOSEDIVE! Cover, TWO!! White survives and Dante can’t believe it! The fans fire up and Dante hurries to get White up! Waistlock, full nelson, but White slips free to SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX!! Dante staggers, into the BLADERUNNER!! Cover, White wins!

Winner: Jay White, by pinfall

The Switchblade cuts down Dante, and he celebrates with all the gold! But then White then shows respect by helping Dante up. White says Dante has heart, and he raises Dante’s hand! The fans cheer, this is quite the surprise from Jay White. But then BRAINBUSTER for the hell of it!! Top Flight rushes the ring but White gets away! Will nothing stop The Bang Bang Gang from collecting belts and taking cheap shots here in AEW?

Backstage interview with Deonna Purrazzo.

Arkady Aura is with The Virtuosa, and notes that she attacked Thunder Rosa after losing the match to her last week. The question then is: Why? Deonna repeats, “Why?” Why what? She has a question for everyone else: When is enough enough? She’s not just some random girl who walked in and became All Elite. Deonna has been at this for 12 YEARS! She is a FIVE-TIME Women’s World Champion, and THE Virtuosa. And after last week, she’s starting to feel like herself. Time for the rest of the locker room to feel it, too. If Rosa doesn’t wanna heed Deonna’s advice, then they can make this personal!

Do you know what happens when you make things personal with a Jersey girl? Arkady does not. Then pray you never do. Deonna says vafanapoli with the hand gesture, will she stick it to La Mera Mera?

Rush speaks.

“For decades, my family has dominated Mexican lucha libre. The Munoz Dynasty is reflected in discipline. The discipline that my father taught us. And I became the first-ever Mexican ROH World Champion. Now, I am known as The Most Hated Man in Mexico. You will recognize that people like Rush is superior to you. And if there is a price to pay, you’re about to pay! I am El Toro Blanco, Rush, and you will put respect to my name. RESPECT, TO MY NAME!” The ungovernable is ready to take over, who will be gored by the Bull’s Horns?

Backstage interview with “Big Bill” Morrissey.

Renee Paquette is with the human skyscraper and says he made it abundantly clear that he’d like to be under Chris Jericho’s Learning Tree. Why at this point in his career does that feel like the right fit? Bill says that he believes, and always has believed, that he has all the tools necessary to make it to the top of this industry. The one thing that has always been missing is the proper guidance. Bill thinks Jericho is the guy to give him that guidance. Jericho is the guy to help him reach his full potential. Jericho is the guy that takes Bill to the Promised Land. Bill proclaims one more time, teach him, Learning Tree.

But speaking of, Jericho steps in! He waves hi to the camera and says he heard what Bill said. Jericho thanks Shibata for the match earlier tonight. Shibata is a great wrestler, he beat the crap outta Jericho, as shown by the red chest. But Jericho was able to retain the #ForTheWorld Championship, with the fans in his hometown cheering him on. It just gets louder and louder every single week. And Big Bill, the way you were cheering Jericho on, that made Jericho think and realize, Bill’s right. So Jericho would love to take Bill into the Jericho Vortex and make him a student of the Learning Tree, if Bill will have him.

Bill says Jericho will not regret this decision. This will be one of the best decisions Jericho has ever made, and Bill will not let him down. Jericho knows Bill won’t. Just like the fans never let Jericho down! And now with a “big redwood” by his side, Jericho knows The Learning Tree will hold onto the FTW Championship for a long time to come! Thanks, guys! Jericho waves bye and Bill is very excited, will these two really reach the top of AEW together?

Swerve Strickland speaks.

The AEW World Champion is backstage, icepack on his head after what The Patriarchy did to him during Dynamite. Swerve reminds Christian that Christian chose to team with him last year in Wembley Stadium because Christian knows what kind of man Swerve is. And so that means Christian’s forgotten something. Swerve is going to remind the whole family just who the hell Swerve is. Dynamite next week, they’ll have a little “talk.” And next time, Swerve won’t be alone. Swerve laughs sinisterly, is Captain Charisma going to regret stepping into Swerve’s House?

Rocky Romero VS Kyle O’Reilly!

This match was only just made earlier tonight, with Azucar wanting to strike out on his own from Best Friends. He and #CombatKyle both want to prove themselves worthy of championships, but who will be one step closer after tonight?

The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally up, feel things out, and they knuckle lock. Kyle gets around to waistlock, Rocky switches but Kyle switches back. Rocky switches again, Kyle switches again, and he SLAMS Rocky down. Rocky slips free to waistlock Kyle, but Kyle moves around to switch with him. They both get back and Rocky gives some Latino Heat. The two reset, tie up, and Kyle wrenches to wristlock. Rocky wrenches, Kyle wrenches, repeat! They go back and forth, wrench for wrench, but then Rocky reaches back to to wrench. Kyle slips under to wrench, then he cranks the wristlock.

Rocky endures, fights up, and he rolls. Kyle still wrangles Rocky with a top wristlock and the fans applaud. Rocky kips up, breaks free, but Kyle avoids the dropkick! Rocky avoids the Penalty Kick, and the fans cheer the newest standoff. The two reset again, fist bump, and then tie up. Kyle headlocks, Rocky endures the grind then throws body shots. Rocky powers out, but Kyle avoids the arm-drag! Kyle trips Rocky, steps on him, but Rocky stays low. Kyle BOOTS Rocky on the return, but then Rocky RANAS! Rocky goes into the ARMBAR! Kyle fights around, slips out and has an ANKLE LOCK!

The fans fire up as Kyle brings Rocky around. Rocky hops, kicks, but Kyle ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Kyle bails out, Rocky DIVES! Direct hit and Kyle hits railing! Rocky keeps moving, and he DIVES again! But Kyle catches Rocky to FALCON ARROW on the floor! And then ARMBAR! The ref counts, they’re on the outside as it is! Kyle lets go at 4, snarls, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Kyle stomps Rocky, brings him up and puts him in, then brings him up. Kyle wrenches, CLUBS the arm, then hammerlocks. Kyle wrangles Rocky, KNEES him in the back, then throws down elbows! Kyle floats over to ELBOW and KNEE the other side! Kyle then runs to SLIDING KNEE! Rocky writhes and flounders to a corner but Kyle storms up on him. Kyle KICKS and KICKS, then wrenches for an ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle holds onto the arm to YANK it! Kyle wrenches again, but Rocky shoves him away. Rocky dodges Kyle to RUNNING SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO! Kyle stays in this but Rocky’s right on him for a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK!

Kyle endures, fights around, but Rocky looks to drop into an armbar! Kyle clasps hands to fight that, but Rocky breaks the grip! Kyle rolls back, Rocky stands up to keep the wristlock, and he keeps Kyle from ropes. Rocky knuckle locks, goes up the ropes, and then METEORAS the arm! Kyle writhes now and Rocky storms up. Rocky brings Kyle around to CHOP! Kyle staggers, Rocky grabs the bad arm, and hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Rocky repays Kyle from earlier, then CHOPS! Kyle fires a forearm! Rocky gives it back! Kyle fires another forearm, but Rocky wrenches to another ELBOW BREAKER! And then Rocky YANKS the arm!

Rocky YANKS the arm again, but Kyle fires more forearm shots! Kyle gets free of the wristlock, but runs into an UPPERCUT! Rocky runs, but Kyle KNEES him against ropes! Kyle WRINGS the arm, Rocky writhes, and Rampage returns to single picture. Kyle stands to KICK Rocky! Rocky KICKS back! They KICK and KICK, each going after the other’s arm! KICK, KICK, KICK and repeat! The fans fire up with every shot, but then Kyle wrenches for another ELBOW BREAKER! Rocky wrenches Kyle’s arm for an ELBOW BREAKER! They both fire forearms, but then Kyle fires off a strike fest! Rocky jumps the leg sweep to JUMP KNEE! Kyle yoyos and LARIATS!

The fans fire up while both men are down! The standing count starts, both men go to corners. Rocky and Kyle stand at 6 of 10, then Rocky runs up, but Kyle puts him up top! Kyle CLUBS Rocky, climbs up after him, but Rocky fires hands! Rocky cravats to then SUPER SLICED BREAD!! Cover, TWO!! Kyle survives and Rocky is beside himself! Rocky fires back up, and he KICKS Kyle’s arm! And KICKS! And KICKS, but Kyle blocks, KICKS, steps over, and KNEES Rocky, to then AX ‘N’ SMASH!! Cover, TWO!! Rocky survives but he is dazed! Rocky goes to ropes, Kyle runs up, but Rocky UPPERCUTS! And HAYMAKERS! And then runs, into a KIMURA!

Kyle has the body scissors, but Rocky reaches for ropes! Rocky drops as Kyle cranks the arm! Rocky slips through, and has the ARMBAR! Kyle fights to stack, pop free, and KNEEBAR! Rocky makes it a cover, TWO!! Both men get up, Kyle takes a swing but Rocky makes it a backslide! TWO, but Rocky goes for the KIMURA! Kyle fights up, even as Rocky cranks the arm! They go around and around and around, Kyle rolls, but Rocky drops onto the hold! But Kyle victory rolls with crossed legs! KYLE WINS!

Winner: Kyle O’Reilly, by pinfall

Even Rocky is shocked that he got caught! Kyle still shows Rocky respect, but will this momentum help Kyle go back for revenge on Roderick Strong? Or perhaps, given what we saw on Dynamite, is there a different title that’s caught Kyle’s eye?

BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!

Rampage is once again live on a Saturday to follow AEW Collision next week on May 11th, and it’s all on TBS! Make sure your DVRs catch this so you don’t miss another THREE HOUR BLOCK of All Elite Wrestling!

Backstage interview with The Outcasts.

Arkady is now with Saraya and Harley, and she says this wasn’t scheduled, the Outcasts demanded time to speak. With that, the floor is theirs. Saraya says how could they not talk after that “disastrous” performance by, um, Mariah… May, is it? Yeah, but Harley has another name for her: Tiny Storm. Saraya likes that, because losers breed losers! Saraya beat Storm, was the champ at the time, and then Storm has found this “illegitimate daughter” of sorts. Mariah’s quite the chip off the old… box. Harley tells “Tiny Storm” that since she enjoys quitting so much, how about she does it all again next Wednesday against… Oh, Harley!

Saraya likes that idea! Like they say, what’s old is new. Yeah, and what’s new is old! And what’s old can’t be new because it’s old. And new can’t be old because it’s new! Harley, stop already. But no need to keep their chins up and tits out, they’ve got that covered. The Outcasts head out, but will they remember to watch for the shoe?

Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.

Rampage returns and Arkady is with Matt Taven, Mike Bennett & Roderick Strong. Arkady notes that Roddy’s AEW International Championship will be on the line against Will Ospreay at Double or Nothing. Taven interrupts with, “Jeez, Not Lexy.” But she corrects him, that’s his nickname for Renee. Well, Arkady ain’t Renee either! But there are more pressing issues here! #NeckStrong has been back and trending for over a week now, and Taven finds it disrespectful that the guy wearing a neck brace (Tony Khan) is too hurt to travel. Meanwhile, Roddy, a wrestling legend, would take his neck brace off, win a match and do it again over and over!

Roddy is truly #NeckStrong! Roddy thanks Taven for that. As for “Billy Boy” Ospreay, he’s “retired” the Tiger Driver 91, aka Storm Driver 93. It’s just dead? Well, get ready to resurrect it, because he’s facing The Messiah of the Backbreaker! And the Assassin is gonna need every bullet in the chamber! And as we celebrate the five year anniversary of AEW, we look back to where it started, what has happened, and where it stands now. But where is AEW going from here? The Kingdom decides! At Double or Nothing, WILL Ospreay will fall to the Messiah of the Backbreaker! Roddy is ready, but will he see it isn’t Billy Boy, it’s #BillyGOAT?

AEW TBS Championship Manitoba Massacre: Willow Nightingale VS Skye Blue!

The Babe with the Power heard the challenge made, and then upped the ante on Skye! This is now Falls Count Anywhere and Anything Goes! However, the EVPs took offense to what Stokely Hathaway had to say about them, so he and Kris Statlander aren’t allowed anywhere near ringside! Will Willow still find a way to win? Or is Skye about to take her place against Mercedes Mone at Double or Nothing?

Well, Kris can’t be with Willow at ringside, but she does see her off at the ramp, and hands her a smiley face trash can lid. Willow storms to the ring but Skye rushes her first, kendo stick in hand! Trash can lid becomes shield, and then Willow JAMS Skye up! The bell rings, Willow SMACKS Skye on the back, then Willow SMACKS her again! Willow RAMS Skye into barriers, then gets space to run up and LARIAT her against the barriers! Willow dumps Skye over, storms out after her, and CLUBS her on the back. They go around the back of the floor seats, and Skye hits back! Willow runs up to ROCK Skye and SMACK her off more barriers!

Willow stalks Skye, brings her around to CLUB her again and again, then shoves her towards ringside. Willow pulls off protective padding from barriers, and SMACKS Skye off them! Willow then drags Skye up, but Skye HOTSHOTS Willow off the barriers! Willow flounders against a chair, and Skye climbs the barriers. Skye leaps, into a CHAIR SHOT! Skye falls in a heap, Willow covers, TWO! Willow huffs and puffs but goes looking under the ring. Willow brings out another chair, and another chair, and then goes back for Skye. Willow stomps Skye, grabs another chair, and she sits that up. Willow ROCKS Skye then makes her take a seat.

Willow CHOPS Skye, then goes to the apron! Willow aims, the fans fire up, and Willow CANNONBALLS but only gets chair! Skye avoids disaster, Willow crashes ‘n’ burns, and the fans go wild as Rampage goes picture in picture!

Willow writhes, we get an instant replay, and then we see Willow stagger around. She finds her trash can lid, storms up on Skye and SMACKS her! And SMACKS her again! Skye leans against the desk, ROCKS Willow in return, then CLUBS her on the back! Skye takes the lid to SMACK Willow! And SMACK her right in the head! Willow falls over, Skye covers, TWO! Skye is frustrated but she puts Willow back in the ring. Skye kicks Willow around, bumps her off buckles sand digs her boots in. Skye is a little bloody already but she doesn’t sweat it. Skye lets off, she and Willow trade shots, and then Skye HAMMERS away on Willow!

Skye grabs a chair, sets it up, and then CLUBS Willow. Skye brings Willow over, reels her in, but Willow fights the suplex! Willow fires body shots, then scoops Skye to SLAM her on the chair! Skye writhes, Willow hauls her up to TOSS her out, then goes out after her. Willow grabs another chair, puts that in the ring, then grabs yet another chair. Chair after chair is put in the ring, but Skye ROCKS Willow first! Skye CLUBS Willow, takes a chair and puts that in the ring. Skye follows Willow around the way, but Willow throws body shots! Skye SUPERKICKS her down! Skye leaves Willow behind to go looking under the ring.

Rampage returns to single picture and Winnipeg wants tables. Skye just adds another trash can lid to the equation instead. But Willow POUNCES Skye right down, PERIOD! Willow puts Skye in the ring, RAMS her into a corner, then takes a chair to wedge it in front of her! The fans fire up as Willow goes corner to corner, but Skye CHUCKS the chair at her! Then SUPERKICKS her down! Cover, TWO!! Skye pulls at her hair in frustration, then goes out to find a black bag! Jericho’s had pucks earlier tonight, this one looks a bit different. Yep, it’s THUMBTACKS! Skye drags Willow up, but Willow RAMS Skye into the corner!

Willow puts Skye up top, climbs up after her, but Skye slips under! Skye tucks Willow in to CHEEKY NANDOS! Skye gets under but Willow throws down hands! Skye grabs a chair to CHUCK it at Willow!! Willow wobbles, Skye goes up, but Willow fires body shots! SUPER FISHERMAN BUSTER onto the tacks!! Willow covers, TWO!! Willow ignores the pain and goes outside to fetch… a TABLE! The fans fire up as Willow sets that up on the outside, but Skye grabs a chair. Willow hurries in after Skye, but Skye JAMS her up! Skye hops on, CODE- NO, Willow pops free, kicks low, and SLAMS Skye onto that chair!

Willow goes up and up while Skye is down, MOONSAULT onto just chairs!! Skye avoids disaster again, then SUPERKICKS! Skye CLUBS Willow, BUZZSAWS her down, then goes outside. Skye looks under the ring, and she brings out a plank covered in barbed wire! The fans tell Skye she’s sick but she puts that right on top of the table. Willow ROCKS her first! Skye wobbles, Willow throws a shoulder, but into a KICK! Skye brings Willow to the apron, and fireman’s carries!? Willow fights free of that, and gut wrenches! BABE WITH THE POWER BOMB down through barbed wire and table!!! Cover, WILLOW WINS!

Winner: Willow Nightingale, by pinfall (still AEW TBS Champion)

The stakes were at their highest, and their most dangerous, but Willow comes out the winner! Kris & Stokely hurry to ringside to help her to her feet, and now it’s on to Double or Nothing! Will the CEO find out first hand why Willow is the Face of TBS?

My Thoughts:

A great Rampage right here. Now, doing three hours of AEW stuff on one night is always a lot, but following Dynamite on this night worked out great for Rampage. They got to have the bleed-over of the shocking segment with Kenny and The Elite, where The Elite did even more awful stuff for even more Heel Heat. As I said for the Dynamite article, Omega is surely in better health than his promo told us, and this is definitely also so he can take a few more weeks to get back in ring shape for whatever awesome matches are planned for the Summer. And then, great promo from Swerve to respond to what happened to him. He says he’s bringing people, is there going to be a Face turn for the rest of the Embassy? Kaun and Liona are pretty awesome in the ring, I think fans would like Face Gates of Agony.

But one drawback of Rampage being live after Dynamite tonight when things can go long, Konosuke got his squash match cut. Though, because it was obviously gonna be a squash match, nothing of importance was lost, Konosuke can just squash someone else next week and call out Moxley at the same time. Great match from White VS Dante, but I figured White would win. I did find it funny that Bullet Club Gold was going around with three belts just because they could. Honestly, they should dunk the hot pink belts in the trash in a reference to Alundra Blayze while also sticking it to Acclaimed, and then they just keep the black ‘n’ gold AEW belts and the silver ‘n’ black ROH belts.

Kyle VS Rocky was an awesome match, even for being “booked” the same night. Great quick pin win for Kyle, he’ll probably be primed for the TNT Championship on the other side of Double or Nothing. And really good promo from The Kingdom to call out Ospreay and hype up the International Championship match. Really good promo from Deonna Purrazzo to call out Rosa, they’ll clearly have a rematch post Double or Nothing, maybe make it a Submission Match or some other tough match. Really good promo for Saraya & Harley to call out Storm & Mariah, maybe we get a tag match of Outcasts VS #RoseGold, aka Mariah & Mina Shirakawa, adding to the mentor love triangle of Storm, Mariah and Mina.

And as with Dynamite, Rampage got to have the women in the main event and that’s great. As I’ve said, if they’re not gonna book more than one women’s match per show, make the one match they have matter. Willow and Skye went to some wild extremes, but Skye still needs to work on how she sneaks her blading and where. Another weaker forehead trickle here. But honestly, not even sure Skye needed to bleed from forehead with the tacks and barbed wire getting involved. Great win for Willow here, and so naturally Willow VS Mone is set, it wasn’t gonna be anything else.