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Mitchell’s WWE Fastlane Live Report! (3/11/18)

Published

7 years ago

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All images courtesy of WWE’s official Twitter, and the WWE Network streaming service

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Kickoff Match, Six Man Tag: Tye Dillinger & Breezango VS Mojo Rawley, Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable; Dillinger & Breezango win.
  • Shinsuke Nakamura VS Rusev w/ Aiden English; Nakamura wins.
  • WWE United States Championship: Bobby Roode VS Randy Orton; Orton wins and becomes the new WWE US Champion.
  • Naomi & Becky Lynch VS Natalya & Carmella; Natalya & Carmella win.
  • WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The Usos VS The New Day; no contest.
  • WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Ruby Riott; Charlotte wins and retains the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship.
  • WWE Championship Six Pack Challenge: AJ Styles VS John Cena VS Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn VS Baron Corbin VS Dolph Ziggler; Styles wins, and will face Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestlemania 34.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Show-Off will be in the Social Media Lounge!

Use #AskDolph for a chance to get your questions answered ahead of Dolph Ziggler joining the wild Six Pack Challenge for the WWE Championship!

 

Baron Corbin speaks.

“Everybody in the Six Pack Challenge tonight wants the same thing”, and that’s to be the WWE Champion. Well that’s funny, because the Lone Wolf doesn’t care what they want or what the fans want. He only cares about what he wants: Corbin wants to be “The Face of Disappointment”; Corbin wants to be the guy to ruin all their Wrestlemania Moments; and most of all, he wants to point to that Wrestlemania sign so that Dolph Ziggler, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, AJ Styles and John Cena remember him as the guy who took their dreams and turned them into nightmares. Will Corbin live his dream of ruining everyone else’s tonight?

 

Backstage interview with The New Day.

They’re ready to share pancakes with Charly, but she asks them their mind-set for tonight’s match. The Usos have said the New Day are soft and stale, but the New Day don’t care about what the Usos say. There is no team that embodies the E of WWE. People work multiple jobs just to come to these shows for entertainment. And no team entertains in or out of the ring better than The New Day! Usos say New Day is soft, stale, and stuck in the past, but then tell us how the New Day became four time tag team champions in a fraction of the time it took the Usos to become relevant?

Furthermore, the Usos became relevant off the hard work the New Day put in! Usos want to talk about #DownSinceDayOne, but that bond wasn’t their choice. The New Day chose to be brothers, to be Wrestlemania hosts, to be history-making tag team champions and to put the Tag Team Division back in the spotlight! Tonight, the New Day choose to leave the Usos laying while they become five time WWE tag team champions! And here, a pancake for the road. The New Day is fired up, but will they keep that flame burning or will the Usos put it out?

 

Sunil Singh and Jinder Mahal join the Kickoff Panel.

“The Modern Day Maharrrrrraja” says hello to everyone, but points out that he, “the Uncrowned United States Champion”, was left out of review packages. He stood tall over both Orton and Roode in recent weeks, so why is he not part of the match as a triple threat? The fans believe it’s because “Jinder Sucks!” This disrespect from the WWE Universe and SmackDown management is insulting, especially given Mahal being forced into a double header to try and become champion. Mahal has had a great year aside from this, such as not being on the SmackDown Top Ten List.

But that aside, Mahal brings up Roode as an “egotistical mania” and a “liar”! He wants to be the true United States Champion. Who does he want to face, then? It won’t matter! Mahal has gotten the best of them both! He will watch this match closely somehow, will he like what he sees when it’s all over?

 

The Social Media Lounge brings Dolph Ziggler his questions.

The Show-Off has a busy night ahead of him, but he feels like a million bucks. He’s waited for even a shred of a chance of main-eventing Wrestlemania as a world champion. Does he regret giving up the US Championship? No, not at all. At a certain point, you reach milestones, and sometimes those titles don’t mean what they should. Ziggler brings up “King” Booker T and his peasants, but Ziggler has just flat out stopped caring what the WWE Universe wants. He’s proven himself time and again, and he’s “got bigger fish to fry” tonight. In that case, are his best days behind him? No! Ziggler’s never been hurt, he’s always here, because he wants to prove how great he is, without giving a damn about what people think. Booker T likes what he hears!

Time for questions: “Do you thnik this might be your last chance at the WWE Championship?” Maybe. Every day could be the last chance to prove his legacy. Every live event, every SmackDown, even this Wrestlemania, could be his last. Can the Show-Off show the world that he isn’t done yet?

 

Kickoff Match, Six Man Tag: Tye Dillinger & Breezango VS Mojo Rawley, Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable!

The Perfect Ten teams up with The Fashion Police to show #MojoRising and “American Alpha 2” aren’t #ReadyWillingAndGable to keep them down! Can he, Prince Pretty & WWE’s Lord of the Dance gain some ground in the SmackDown Singles and Tag Team Divisions?

The bell rings and Gable starts with Breeze. Gable baits Breeze in and catches him, to throw him back out. He tells Breeze, “You’re a joke!” while Fandango tags in. Fandango has Tye get him his wrestling head gear! The fans love how “serious” Fandango is taking this match. He ties up with Gable but Gable gets a waistlock and slam. Fandango takes off the head gear and tags out to Breeze. Gable gives Breeze an advantage, and dares the “moron” to do something. So Breeze says “giddy-up”!

Gable gets up and swings, but Breeze dropkicks back. Benjamin comes in but gets a dropkick. Mojo comes in, Fandango hits him with an atomic drop and Tye hits a dropkick of his own. Breeze goes after Gable, but Gable evades to monkey flip Breeze out and onto his face!

Control goes to Gable’s team while we go to break.

WWE Fastlane returns, and Benjamin has control of Breeze as he arm-drags and knee drops. Benjamin drags Breeze around into an armlock with chinbar, but the fans rally for Breeze. Breeze fights his way up and reaches for his corner. Benjamin reels Breeze in for an armbar DDT, cover, TWO. Benjamin tags to Gable, and they both lift Breeze for double knees, kicks and more knees. Cover, TWO, but Gable puts Breeze back in an armlock. Breeze endures and fans rally again. Prince Pretty gets up and reaches again, but Gable wrenches and reels him into an overhead belly2belly! Cover but Fandango breaks it, so Gable tags to Mojo.

Mr. Killer Instinct stalks Breeze, then gives him a swift jab. The fans taunt, “You Can’t Wrestle!” but Mojo ignores it to headbutt Breeze. Mojo says he doesn’t care about being a wrestling wrestler, and then carries Breeze into his team’s corner. He rams shoulder after shoulder then throws Breeze to the mat. Mojo stares Tye down and then points to laugh, before giving Fandango a sucker punch! Breeze revives and enziguris Mojo down! The fans rally while both men crawl, hot tags to Tye and Gable!

The Perfect Ten rallies! He sees Mojo coming and knocks him down, then gives Gable a running chop. Gable reverses the whip but Tye runs him over! The fans chant, “TEN! TEN!” and Tye lifts Gable. Benjamin saves Gable but Fandango takes out Benjamin. Gable reverses another whip and rolls Tye up, TWO! He comes right back with the rolling kick! Tag to Benjamin, Benjamin drags Tye up while Gable climbs up. Powerbomb lift but Tye fights out. Gable jumps into the Beauty Shot! Tye dumps Benjamin out for Fandango to take care of. Mojo rolls up Tye, TWO! SUPERKICK! Then, short Tie Breaker! Cover, Tye & Breezango win! Will this help them finally return to SmackDown television?

 

The Race to Wrestlemania is on.

There’s only so much time left before we reach The Grandest Stage of Them All, so every championship SmackDown has is on the line to see who earns a spot. The Road to Wrestlemania narrows, who will get through this high-speed collision course?!

 

Shinsuke Nakamura VS Rusev w/ Aiden English!

The King of Strong Style already has his spot at Wrestlemania thanks to winning the Royal Rumble. However, the Bulgarian Lion wishes to get payback for his friend, the Drama King. Can “Rusev Daaaaaay~” ruin the Rockstar’s ride down to New Orleans? Or will a new holiday emerge to change the WWE calendar?

The bell rings and Rusev circles with Nakamura while the fans duel with “Rusev Day!” “Nakamura!” Nakamura and Rusev feel it out, and Nakamura lunges in. Rusev blocks and floats to a waistlock to then throw Nakamura down. Cover, ONE, but Rusev gets hold of a facelock. Short fireman’s carry and cover, TWO, and now Nakamura gets a waistlock. Nakamura keeps Rusev from ropes, but Rusev reverses into a wristlock. Rusev digs an elbow into the armlock, then wrenches again. He reels Nakamura into a headlock but Nakamura powers out, only for Rusev to run him over. Rusev speeds things up but narrowly avoids a kick from Nakamura. He then runs out but into Nakamura’s block, flip and knee. Nakamura snapmares and knee drops, cover, ONE.

Nakamura brings Rusev up and wrenches his arm. Rusev knees low and rocks Nakamura with a haymaker. The fans keep dueling, and Rusev goes after Nakamura’s arm. He gives a quick shoulder breaker before wrenching the arm again. Nakamura rolls and cartwheels to reverse the hold. He gets a headlock but Rusev powers Nakamura to ropes. The ref calls for the break, but Rusev swings on Nakamura. Nakamura evades, and then says, “C’MON!”

Rusev doesn’t fall for it, he rolls out of the ring. He regroups with English to cool things off, but Nakamura still says “C’MON!” Rusev brushes it off, grinning as he paces. Nakamura dares Rusev to get in while the referee counts, but Rusev takes his time. He does reenter, to then exit again.

Nakamura gets fed up with that, and goes right after Rusev! He strikes, then puts Rusev on the apron for a big knee lift. Then a knee drop! Rusev goes down, and Nakamura puts him back in again. The fans keep dueling while Nakamura climbs up, but Rusev catches him with a full body attack! Rusev keeps on Nakamura by whipping him into barriers, then ramming him into the apron edge. He rams Nakamura into more barriers, then puts him back in the ring. Cover, TWO! Rusev keeps his cool as he stalks Nakamura. He stomps Nakamura, then drags him up by his hair into a cobra clutch. Nakamura endures the squeeze, and the fans rally. He fights out of the hold, then rolls Rusev into a heel hook!

Rusev reaches and crawls and gets the ropebreak. Nakamura lets go, but then swings a kick, to end up in a swinging side slam!

Cover, TWO! Rusev hobbles on that bad leg, the heel hook clearly did some damage for the short time it was on. Rusev glares at Nakamura before dropping running elbows. He slows down because of the bad ankle, but fans keep dueling. Rusev puts Nakamura into a half straitjacket hold. Fans rally and Nakamura gets up and fights out. Rusev knees low and backs Nakamura down, then whips to ropes. Nakamura evades, dynamic dropkick! Nakamura stands up and starts kicking away at Rusev’s chest. Rusev blocks one but not the other, and staggers to a corner. Nakamura runs in corner to corner for a knee, then lifts Rusev onto the ropes for the Top Shelf Knee! Cover, TWO!

Nakamura doesn’t slow down, he just rams knees into Rusev’s ribs. He drags Rusev up with a facelock, even a guillotine, but Rusev picks him up, only for that bad leg to bring him back down. Rusev tries again, but the leg keeps him down. Nakamura keeps squeezing, but Rusev uses what power he has to lift Nakamura for a Fall Away Slam! Rusev gasps for air, recovering while Nakamura is stirring. Rusev stands up first but Nakamura unleashes the strike fest! Nakamura runs, but into a pop-up knee to roundhouse! Cover, TWO! Rusev can’t believe it! He keeps gasping for air while Nakamura has eyes glazed over.

Rusev glares at Nakamura and stomps about to prepare himself. He throws in a kick but Nakamura rocks Rusev with more strikes. Rusev kicks back, kicking Nakamura’s legs, but Nakamura knees Rusev down for an ax kick! Nakamura takes aim, firing up for his finish, and runs in only for Rusev to side step him. Rusev then rolls Nakamura, TWO, into the Accolade! But Nakamura resists and reverses to a Sunset Flip, TWO! Nakamura swings a kick, Rusev ducks, but that second kick catches Rusev on the back end! Nakamura returns to a corner and takes aim. He runs out, but into a MACHKA KICK!!

Rusev is slow to a cover, and arrogant at that, TWO! And now Rusev is doubting himself. English and the fans chant “Rusev Day!” to encourage him. He says “MACHAK!” and goes for another Accolade, but Nakamura slips out to KINSHASA Rusev in the back of the head! Nakamura isn’t done there, he gives Rusev a KINSHASA to the front!

Cover, Nakamura wins! The King of Strong Style conquers the Bulgarian Brute, can he do the same to whoever he faces at Wrestlemania?

 

WWE United States Championship: Bobby Roode VS Randy Orton!

Regardless of what anyone thinks, or what Jinder Mahal says, this isn’t personal between The Viper and The GLORIOUS One. Roode wants to become the greatest WWE United States Champion ever, while Orton wants to check it off to finally become a WWE Grand Slam Champion. Who will take a step towards history with a victory here tonight?

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The belt is raised, the bell rings, and we begin! Orton and Roode circle then tie up, Roode gets the waistlock. Orton gets the standing switch but Roode works his way out of the hold. Roode goes after the wrist, wrenches the arm and yanks on the shoulder. Orton drops to a knee, but stands back up to drop toehold Roode down. He puts Roode in the front facelock but Roode spins out, the fans applaud this momentary stalemate.

Roode and Orton tie up again, Orton gets the headlock. Roode powers out but Orton runs him over, then poses. Orton speeds things up but now Roode runs him over, and Orton gets to a corner. Roode stares Orton down from across the way before circling again. They tie up, Roode gets a headlock, but Orton powers out again. Roode runs Orton over and hits HIS pose. Now Roode speeds things up, Orton back elbows Roode down. Orton watches Roode get to a corner, and stares him down now. The fans chant “RKO! RKO!” for the Viper, but Roode just grins before tying up again.

Orton puts on another headlock, Roode powers him to a corner. Orton gives a European Uppercut in the break, but Roode chops him back. Roode checks his jaw before whipping Orton corner to corner. Orton comes out, evades and goes for the RKO but Roode narrowly avoids it. Roode catches his breath on the outside while Orton brushes off the chop. The ref begins a count but Roode comes in, Orton allowing him. Fans start dueling while they tie up again. Roode gets the headlock but Orton powers him to a corner now. The break is tense again, Roode catches Orton with a chop. Orton hits another EuroUpper then whips Roode corner to corner. Roode goes up and over and goes for the DDT, but Orton narrowly escapes now. Orton composes himself while Roode grins and fires up.

Jinder Mahal watches this backstage, and is apparently dressed to compete.

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Mahal shakes his head while Orton walks back into the ring. Roode allows it, then they tie up again. They push each other at the ropes, going back and forth, but Orton ends up on the inside. The break isn’t clean as Orton kicks low and then hangs Roode up on that top rope. Cover, ONE, but Orton isn’t frustrated. Orton stalks Roode, stomping away as only Orton can. He drags Roode up to kick him in the ribs. Roode gets to a corner, and Orton gives him a haymaker. Orton whips corner to corner but Roode fires out with a lariat. Cover, ONE, and Roode takes a moment to catch his breath while Orton checks his shoulder. Roode stomps that hand, and a knee drop. Cover, TWO, but Roode keeps on Orton with a chinlock.

Orton endures, the fans rally, and Orton stands up. Roode keeps on him, shifting position to bring Orton back to his knees. Orton tries again, and fights out with body shots. Roode kicks back, then drags Orton up for a suplex. Orton blocks, and counters with his own suplex! Both Orton and Roode need a moment to catch their breath. Orton stalks Roode but Roode swings first, only to be countered with right hands. Roode evades and rallies with clotheslines! He gives on in the corner, then brings Orton out for a neckbreaker. Roode climbs up while Orton is down, takes aim at him, and hits a flying clothesline! Orton goes down again, and Roode fires up. He winds it up, and GLORIOUS Pose!

Roode grabs Orton, but Orton rolls, TWO! Now Orton rallies with clotheslines of his own, and evades Roode to hit the spinning powerslam!

Roode rolls to the apron but Orton knows what to do with this. The fans cheer while Orton drags Roode between the ropes. Orton has Roode but Roode throws Orton to the apron. Roode turns around but into a hotshot! Orton slithers in but runs into boots. Roode hops up again, GLORIOUS Blockbuster!

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Cover, TWO! Roode keeps his cool while Orton gets himself to a corner. Roode chops Orton again, then whips corner to corner. Orton reverses but ROode goes up, only to be caught and put on the apron. Roode hits back but his shoulder is caught with a kick, then the Draping DDT! Fans cheer for it, and Orton hears the voices in his head. Orton stalks Roode, but Roode avoids another one. He kicks low, but Orton counters the DDT and sits on the sunset, TWO! Roode staggers but evades to clothesline Orton out of the ring. Roode catches his breath while Orton crawls on the ground. He then rolls out to stalk Orton. They go around the corner, and Roode whips Orton at the time keeper’s area, only for Orton to reverse and send him into those barriers! Then, ORton lifts Roode to back suplex him onto those barriers!

Roode writhes on the ground while the count reaches 7. Orton puts Roode in at 8, covers, TWO! Orton keeps his cool as he stands back up. He stalks Roode now, and drags him over to a corner. Orton hoists Roode up to the top then gives him right hands. He climbs up to join Roode, and prepares, but Roode resists. Roode tries to pry Orton off, and clubs him back. Roode has a plan, and adjusts, sunset flip and powerbomb! Cover, TWO! Roode slumps over, tiring out from this fight. He drags himself up and thinks on what he has to do to win. Roode gets himself back over to a corner and climbs back up top. Orton revives and trips him up! Orton climbs up again, and with a weakened Roode, he hits the top rope SUPERPLEX!

The impact was so strong, Orton can’t crawl to the cover right away. He makes it over to Roode, covers, TWO! Now Orton feels frustration over falling short of putting his opponent away. They both stand up and start throwing haymakers. Roode kicks, Orton kicks, Roode punches and Orton staggers. Orton comes back with a kick to the ribs but Roode punches back. Orton hits a EuroUpper, and another, but the third is countered to a backslide, TWO! Roode goes for the DDT, Orton slips out but the RKO is denied, GLORIOUS SPINEBUSTER! TWO! Roode is again at a loss for what to do. He sits, head in hands, as he thinks everything over.

Roode eyes the Wrestlemania sign, and stands up. He wont’ let Orton deny him, and grabs a waistlock. Orton elbows Roode back and Roode staggers to a corner. Orton runs in but into more boots. Roode hops up and jumps, but into the RKO!!

Cover, Orton wins! The Viper is the NEW United States and Grand Slam Champion!

Orton makes history, but he doesn’t celebrate long as Jinder Mahal comes out to the ring.

The Maharaja glares at The Viper, and the “Uncrowned United States Champion” storms right up to the ring. Mahal steps into the ring with Orton, and attacks the exhausted champion. However, Roode slides back in and hits Mahal with a GLORIOUS DDT!

The former champion then grabs the new champion, to give him a GLORIOUS DDT, too!

Roode’s mission of becoming the greatest United States Champion may be put on hold, but can he regain the gold when he has a rematch with Orton on the homestretch to Wrestlemania?

 

Sami Zayn finds Kevin Owens backstage.

Kevin is not in the mood to talk to Sami, or is Sami here to lie to him again? What is Kevin talking about? Sami knows what Kevin is talking about! Sami promises to lie down for Kevin in the main event but then Helluva Kicks him on SmackDown?! Yes, Sami did that, because he meant laying down in the championship match. Who cares about SmackDown? This is tonight, this is still Sami “your Guardian Angel.” Count on Sami to- Kevin leaves, not hearing Sami finish. Will Sami still keep his word? Or will Kevin get him before he gets Kevin?

 

Naomi & Becky Lynch VS Natalya & Carmella!

A war of words on social media led to a SmackDown singles match. Then a war of words backstage led to this tag team match! Which duo will down the other to step up towards the top of the SmackDown Women’s Division?

The Lass Kicker starts with the FABULOUS Ms. Money in the Bank. They tie up, pushing each other to ropes. Becky brings Carmella off the ropes and rolls her up, TWO, but Becky says it was close. Carmella shoves Becky, Becky shoves back. Carmella goes to slap but almost ends up in the Disarm-Her! She gets to ropes and screams for the break, to then sucker kick Becky. Natty tags in, and the Queen of Harts kicks Becky low before hitting a snap suplex. She walks on Becky and taunts Naomi but Becky rolls her up, TWO.

Becky arm-drags Natty, then brings her over to tag in Naomi. Double snapmare leads to double kicks, then Naomi hits the sliding slap! Cover, TWO, but Naomi keeps on Natty with a chinlock. Natty fights out and shoves Naomi, so Naomi kicks back. Naomi dodges a swing and headscissors Natty down! Natty ends up in a corner but dodges Naomi for the rebound sit-down and runs, but Naomi counters with a wheelbarrow stunner! She then drags Natty into position, hops up but Carmella distracts. Natty uses that to get Naomi with a sit-out powerbomb! Cover, TWO! Natty embraces the heat as she poses and taunts. Cover again, TWO, so Natty drags Naomi over to her corner. Carmella tags in, they both throw Naomi down by her hair, then split the wishbone.

Carmella keeps on Naomi and bumps her off her boot to then stomp a Fabulous Mudhole. She moonwalks away, then hits the Fabulous Bronco Buster! Cover, TWO, so Carmella grinds Naomi’s face into the mat. She drives elbows into Naomi before thrashing her in a chinlock. Carmella mocks the glow while fans rally for Naomi. Naomi gets up and fights back with wild body shots. Carmella slips out of the scoop to then yank Naomi down by her hair! She brings Naomi back over by her hair to tag in Natty. Natty brings Naomi up and snapmares into another chinlock. Natty taunts the Naomi fans but Naomi endurse while fans rally again. Naomi fights up and arm-drags out, but jumps for a tag only for Natty to carry her all the way back.

Tag to Carmella, and Carmella puts Naomi in a hanging headscissor hold! Carmella lets go at 4, then uses Naomi’s hair to pull her against the ropes! Naomi slaps Carmella, Carmella slaps her back, and then clubs away with forearms. She leaves Naomi on the apron to knee her back, covers, TWO. Tag to Natty, and Carmella whips but Naomi reverses to tackle Carmella into the corner! Natty comes in and pulls Naomi away, but Naomi escapes the back suplex to tag Becky! Becky rallies on Natty with clotheslines and a calf kick. She kicks and throws Natty with a Becksploder!

Natty ends up in a corner, and Becky takes aim. Becky runs for the Straight Fire-arm, but Natty puts her on the apron. Becky knocks Natty away then climbs up, and jump for the missile dropkick! Natty tags Carmella but Becky keeps rallying even on Ms. MITB. Carmella jawbreakers, Naomi tags in to roundhouse and sunset flip, TWO! Naomi whips but Carmella avoids Rear View. Carmella whips but Naomi tags while springboarding for the roundhouse. Becky climbs up again, and hits a super leg drop! Cover, Natty breaks it!

Naomi comes back in but Natty throws her out the other side. Becky throws Natty out, but Carmella evades in the corner. Becky back elbows and climbs up again, booting Carmella down. Natty distracts, allowing Carmella to hit the FABULOUS Steiner! Cover, Naomi breaks it just in time. Carmella gives Naomi a sucker punch, then hurries to get her briefcase! Becky intercepts, but still runs into a FABULOUS Kick!

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Cover, Carmella & Natty win! Teamwork and deception win out, but will Carmella have the confidence to cash-in tonight?

 

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The Usos VS The New Day!

As if the amazing back and forth between these two teams during 2017 wasn’t enough, they go one more time in 2018! Can Jimmy & Jey finally earn a spot on Wrestlemania’s star-studded stage? Or will the Power of Positivity finally break out of the Penitentiary to prove why they’re the greatest in WWE now, then and forever?

The belts are raised and Jimmy starts with Xavier Woods. They trash talk, pointing to the Wrestlemania sign. Things get heated, and Woods throws the first punch. The brawl goes back and forth, Jimmy rocking with an uppercut. Woods whips but Jey tags in, then waits until Woods isn’t looking to slip in and SUPERKICK Woods down!

The Usos isolate Woods to stomp a mudhole into him in their corner, tagging in and out a la the New Day’s stampede. They even stomp to “New! Day Rocks!” rhythm. Tag back to Jey, and Jimmy holds Woods in for Jey to forearm smash. Cover, TWO, but Jey keeps on Woods with a chinlock. Woods endures the squeeze and fans rally for him. He gets to his feet and arm-drags out, then slides under to tag in Kofi! Springboard clothesline and Kofi rallies with double ax handles. He dropkicks Jey down, then Jimmy, then hits a jumping clothesline on Jey. Kofi runs, “New Day!” boom drop! He gets the fans going as he takes aim at Jey, but Jey blocks Trouble in Paradise. Kofi escapes the back suplex but not the dragon whip kick.

Tag to Jimmy, and Jey runs in only for Kofi to stomp him down. Kofi clotheslines Jimmy back out, not realizing he’s legal. Kofi sees Jey, and decides to copy the running hip attack! It connects!

But then Jimmy returns to run Kofi over! Mule kick to uppercut, Woods comes in but gets the pop-up Samoan Drop! Jimmy dodges Kofi to clothesline him back, and steal the Boom Drop! Jimmy then copies the New Day clap, and takes aim at Kofi, for a chance to steal Trouble in Paradise! Kofi ducks under, tries his own, but Jimmy dodges that to tag Jey. Jimmy scoops Kofi, Jey climbs up, and they steal the Midnight Hour!!

Jey hurries to cover, TWO!! Kofi survives his own team finisher, but Jey keeps eyes on him. He runs in corner to corner, but Kofi dodges the splash! Jey and Kofi are down, Woods is back on his corner. Kofi crawls over but Jey anchors his feet. Kofi kicks Jey away and tags Woods! Woods dodges Jey to knock Jimmy down, Jey rolls up, TWO. They speed up, SUPERKICK but Woods still hits the roaring elbow! SUPERKICK from Woods to Jey, Kofi swing kicks Jimmy and Woods SUPERKICKS again! Another SUPERKICK to Jey, and Kofi tags in. Kofi climbs up, takes aim, and Woods hits another SUPERKICK, then launches for the Uce Splash!!

He hits, he covers, TWO!! The New Day can’t believe it! They stole the Usos’ moves but it didn’t finish them off, either! Kofi tags Woods back in, and the two go to opposite corners. They’re preparing to steal another move, but Jimmy shoves Kofi down. Woods runs in but is sent out, and Jimmy gets his brother back up. The Usos build speed together, and they both FLY!

The Usos wipe out all of the New Day! All five men are down on the outside, when the Bludgeon Brothers appear!

The menacing Harper & Rowan head down to the ring, armed with their hammers. Big E gets up first, and gets knocked down first! The match is thrown out but the Bludgeon Brothers keep going, beating up each Uso and then Kofi and Woods! Kofi is sent flying into a post, and Jey is sent into stairs. Jimmy is fed to the Scrapbuster!

Big E is brought into the ring, as is Woods. Rowan puts Woods on the apron, for a double boot sandwich!

That’s not all for Woods, he suffers a double draping suplex! Then Harper & Rowan turn their attention to Big E in the corner. Harper rams Big E while Rowan throws Kofi, then Harper throws Big E out so Rowan can come around and run him over! The Bludgeon Brothers return their attention to the Usos, taking one each for the powerslam sandwich! They stack the Usos, then Harper becomes a weapon for the scoop slam senton. Rowan tops it off with the big body splash, but they’re still not done!

Harper sits Jey up against steps, and then they get the hammers. Rowan swings, but Jey narrowly avoids the hit! However, Harper just body checks Jey into the crowd! The Bludgeon Brothers start to leave, but then decide they’re not done with Woods yet. Harper sets up steel steps and Rowan brings Woods over, for a powerbomb to the steps!!

The Bludgeon Brothers finally leave, having completely annihilated the SmackDown Tag Team title scene. Who will even be left standing to claim those titles with Harper & Rowan around?

 

Backstage interview with AJ Styles.

The Phenomenal One has the odds stacked against him. What does that do his confidence? He’s been talking about the odds for weeks now, and compared to other WWE Champions, this is probably the hardest any champion has worked to get to Wrestlemania. But Styles has a smile on his face because he’s done this his entire life. Styles did the impossible and made it phenomenal. His Wrestlemania Moment starts tonight. Styles has beaten all of the men in this match tonight 1v1, so– Shinsuke Nakamura appears!

Nakamura wishes Styles good luck. Nakamura wants Styles to win so that at Wrestlemania- Just stop, Shinsuke! Styles will make it to Wrestlemania to defend the title and it’ll be Nakamura who gets beat! Nakamura seems to like the sound of that. Will both Nakamura and Styles get what they want on the Grandest Stage of Them All?

 

WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Ruby Riott!

The Squad leader and the Queen of Flair are each 2-0 on the other’s allies, and now one will get the clean sweep along with the title. Who will win to take the SmackDown Women’s Championship all the way to Wrestlemania?

The belt is raised, the bell rings, and it begins. Ruby gets the waistlock and wristlock, wanting her finish! Charlotte narrowly avoids that, and they circle again. Ruby gets the headlock and takeover but narrowly avoids the Figure Four. They circle again as “WOO!” echoes out with the fans. They tie up, Charlotte reversing a wristlock but Ruby grabbing hair. Charlotte gets to ropes and Ruby lets go, only to kick the rope to jack the jaw! Ruby puts on a headlock, Charlotte powers out, then catches Ruby for a Fall Away Slam!

Charlotte runs in but Ruby boots her away. Ruby hops up but Charlotte runs in again, only for Ruby to turn that into a sleeper. Charlotte bumps her off buckles but Ruby holds on, so they tumble to the apron and the floor! They both stand up but Charlotte rams Ruby into barriers. She then throws Ruby back into them, and then into the ring. Charlotte then spots someone creeping up behind, it’s Sarah Logan AND Liv Morgan!

The Squad has assembled, but Ruby is the one to strike with a sucker kick to the back of Charlotte’s head! Ruby puts Charlotte back in the ring, and hits the Riott Kick! Charlotte goes down, Ruby covers, TWO!? Ruby’s best move didn’t finish Charlotte? Ruby drags Charlotte up and dumps her out, then claims something got in her eye. This allows Sarah & Liv to slink around to where Charlotte is, but Naomi & Becky appear to back them off.

The Squad can’t do anything now that #RoyalGlowFire is all together. Ruby puts Charlotte in the ring and rains down rights to make up for that. The Squad cheers while the fans jeer, but Ruby hits Charlotte with a snap suplex. She rolls through to try another but Charlotte counters with a slingshot suplex! Ruby crawls away, Charlotte runs in but into a mule kick. Ruby uses Deadly Nightshade to ram Charlotte into buckles! She dumps Charlotte down again, then climbs up to fall back for the stage dive senton. Cover, TWO, but the Squad taunts Charlotte. Ruby drags Charlotte up and bounces her off the mat a couple times. The Squad applauds as Ruby drags Charlotte up into a straitjacket hold. Especially when Ruby adds her knees into it.

Charlotte endures the bending and stretching but fans are rallying for The Queen. Charlotte works her way back up to her feet, but Ruby bends her all the way back! Ruby gets on top of Charlotte, and makes her look at her friends. Ruby says “They’re gonna see you fail!” as she thrashes Charlotte around. The fans keep rallying, and Charlotte feeds off the energy to get up. Ruby reels her out for an STO! Cover, TWO, and Ruby grows frustrated. She stomps on Charlotte before going to a corner and climb up again. She cannonballs but gets knees to her back! Charlotte evades but Ruby puts up boots, only to end up in a draping neckbreaker! She doesn’t cover, she climbs over and up, but Ruby shoves her down! Charlotte hits barriers! Charlotte stirs with the ring count, so Ruby runs and DIVES! But she’s caught, into an exploder!

Ruby hits barriers, and Charlotte climbs up to then MOONSAULT on Ruby! Charlotte drags Ruby up and in, then covers, TWO! Charlotte tackles Ruby into the takedown but Ruby pushes her away. Ruby stands up, but Charlotte leaps for a big knee strike! Ruby staggers, Charlotte runs in, but misses and hits buckles. She still boots Ruby away, then climbs up, but Ruby rocks her with a forearm. Ruby climbs up, slapping Charlotte on the way, and hits a SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO! And Ruby can’t believe it! She grimaces as she thinks of what to do next.

Ruby brings Charlotte up to give her chops! But Charlotte only grows stronger, and slaps Ruby back before giving her those Flair chops! Chop after chop after chop, then even more chops! Charlotte whips but Ruby holds ropes, only to end up in a backbreaker and shot into the ropes. Ruby gasps but kicks Charlotte back to push Charlotte into buckles! Then the Squad slink in to provoke Becky & Naomi! The referee catches Becky & Naomi, and ejects them! The Squad goes after Charlotte behind his back! But then the referee suspects something, and decides to eject Sarah & Liv! Now it’s back to just champion and challenger, as it was meant to be!

Ruby protests, but doesn’t see Charlotte returning. Charlotte chops, then back suplex, then boots! She’s not done, she puts on the Figure Four, but Ruby counters with a small package! TWO! Ruby wants another Riott Kick but Charlotte reverses to whip Ruby. Ruby goes up, but no Deadly Nightshade this time. Charlotte swings Ruby out then in for an inverted Alabama Slam on buckles!

Charlotte catches her breath as Ruby staggers and flounders in the corner. Ruby staggers out, Charlotte runs in, SPEAR! Then, Figure Four to Figure Eight!

Ruby taps, Charlotte wins! The Queen retains the SmackDown Women’s Championship! She gets the 3-0 sweep to keep her throne as the top woman on the Blue Brand!

Wait a minute, Asuka’s here?!

Raw’s Empress of Tomorrow is here on a SmackDown Pay-Per-View?! And she enters the ring to be face-to-face with Charlotte! Asuka did win the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble match, and has yet to state which title she wants, so is this her way of challenging Charlotte? She has a huge grin on her face, and the fans are chanting “YES! YES!” Asuka then points at the Wrestlemania sign, that pretty much clears it up! If nobody is ready for Asuka, will Charlotte be ready for her in time for Wrestlemania?!

 

SmackDown Commissioner, Shane McMahon, appears!

Shane O’Mac is here to watch this important and incredible main event that he essentially had a hand in creating.

 

 

WWE Championship Six Pack Challenge: AJ Styles VS John Cena VS Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn VS Baron Corbin VS Dolph Ziggler!

What was a triple threat eventually spiraled into a Fatal 5, and then finally slammed into this star-studded six man one-fall match when the Face that Runs the Place desperately wanted a Road to Wrestlemania! Whether it is John Cena making history as a 17-time world champion, the Phenomenal One keeping his Wrestlemania Dream (Re)Match alive, or one of the other four shocking the world, only one man can face the King of Strong Style on the Grandest Stage of Them All!

The tension mounts, the bell rings, and Sami runs right at Cena only to end up in an AA! Kevin tries, but he runs into an AA! Corbin tries, gets an AA! Ziggler, into an AA! Styles fakes Cena out, not letting Cena complete the set. The fans are fired up seeing this amazing match-up once again.

Cena and Styles circle, but the dueling chants are thunderous. They tie up, Cena gets the headlock, Styles powers out. Cena runs Styles over, and embraces the cheers, jeers and boos. Styles springs up to hit back, but Cena gives his own haymakers. They go back and forth, “Yay!” for Styles and “Boo!” for Cena. Styles misses, Cena gets the fireman’s, but Styles lands out of the AA to kick and go for the Clash. Cena counters into the fireman’s carry, but Styles slips out to the apron. Styles backs Cena off, but then everyone else returns. From Styles to Kevin to Sami to Ziggler and Corbin, they all eye Cena.

Cena realizes the situation he’s in, and so do the fans. They chant “YES! YES!” and Cena ends up in a 5v1 beating! He takes punches, stomps and kicks, then is thrown right out of the ring. That leaves the other five to brawl as they see fit! Kevin throws Styles out while Ziggler and Corbin force Sami out, but the brawls continue even on the outside. Styles rocks Kevin, but Corbin pounces on Styles! Ziggler puts Sami into barriers while Corbin does the same to Styles, then Corbin rocks Kevin with a forearm. Sami fights back on Ziggler while Corbin puts Styles in the ring. Kevin hits Corbin, Corbin bowls Kevin into barriers.

Corbin returns in the ring and Styles rolls him up, TWO! Styles dumps Corbin out, but then Sami grabs Styles. Standing switch and roll up, TWO, so Styles throws Sami out. Kevin comes in, whips but Styles reverses the pop-up into a roll-up, TWO. Styles hits Kevin with a wheelbarrow facebuster! Corbin returns but Styles kicks him to sliding forearm him down. Ziggler in, gets an Ushigoroshi! Sami runs in but into Styles’ boot. Styles hops up, moonsault DDT! Kevin breaks the cover, saving both “friend” and match. Sami slips out, leaving Kevin alone with Styles.

Styles puts Kevin on the apron but Kevin hits back. Kevin climbs up, but Styles revives to stop him short. They brawl while Styles climbs up, and Styles wants the superplex. Kevin resists, hits back and sends Styles down. Corbin returns to throw Styles out but Sami boots Corbin, for Corbin to boot back. Cena returns and runs Corbin over! Ziggler in, and hits Cena with the satellite DDT! But then Kevin frog splashes on Ziggler!

Styles breaks the cover just in time, and all six men are down. Kevin and Styles are the first up, the fans dueling again. Styles and Kevin brawl back and forth, a revisit from the US Championship rivalry. Styles unleashes a strike fest, Kevin breaks the combo with a right hand, but Styles hits the Pele! He hurries to bring Kevin into the Clash but Kevin sends Styles up and out. Corbin returns, but runs into a back elbow. He still grabs Kevin by the throat, for a Choke Slam Backbreaker! Ziggler in with the Zig-Zag!

But Cena’s back, and runs Ziggler over with the signature shoulder tackles. Cena hits Ziggler with the spin-out bomb, but he sees Sami coming in, so he uses another spin-out bomb to set Sami right beside Ziggler. Deja vu to Elimination Chamber, “You Can’t See Me!” and TEN Knuckle Shuffle! Cena targets Ziggler, fireman’s carry, but Ziggler counters with a Famouser!

Cover, TWO! Ziggler is frustrated, but stands up and stalks Cena. He tunes up the band a la HBK, and Cena stands, but dodges! Takedown, into the STF! Ziggler flails and reaches, but Styles returns to break up the hold. Cena staggers up, Styles grabs him in the Clash, but Cena counters with a fireman’s carry, only for Styles to counter back! STYLES CLASH!!

Cover, but Sami breaks it just in time! Sami rains rights down on Styles, then lefts, going wild on Styles. Corbin comes back in while fans declare “This is Awesome!” and brawls with Sami. Sami gets the edge but Corbin knees low to throw Sami out. Sami shoulders back in and bumps Corbin off buckles, only for Corbin to uppercut him out of his slingshot! Corbin runs at Kevin, but slides out then in to lariat Kevin! Styles returns, but runs into a deep Deep Six! Ziggler returns, but his satellite is thrown off, for End of- No, Ziggler slips out! Corbin runs at him, but Ziggler side steps to send Corbin out. Corbin lands on his feet and drags Ziggler out to toss him over barriers. The Lone Wolf pursues the Show-Off, ramming him into more barriers. Then Corbin barrels into Ziggler, busting him through the Plexiglas hockey boards!

Ziggler and Corbin are down and out, leaving things to Kevin, Styles, Sami and Cena. Kevin goes after Styles with a boot, then tears apart the American announce table! AND the German announce table! He puts Styles on one, and drags him to his feet. Kevin shouts, “This is MY show! MY title!” But Styles enziguris Kevin! Kevin falls to a knee, then falls to his stomach. Styles clobbers Sami into the time keeper area while Kevin stirs. Cena sees Kevin and the tables, and hurries over! Cena lifts Kevin in the fireman’s carry, but Kevin fights out. Styles runs in, but into the announce desk AA!!

Cena gets Kevin up and into the ring, but Kevin gets to a corner and boots Cena away. Sami clobbers Cena with a clothesline, but Cena ends up out of the ring. This leaves the “best friends” alone in the ring. Everyone is expecting something, and even Kevin expects a fight. But Sami reminds Kevin the promise he made. Sami is a man of his word, so he’s going to do it. The fans want a fight, but Sami lies down!

Kevin isn’t sure if he can trust this, and fans sure don’t want it this way. But Sami says this is Kevin’s chance, so do it! Kevin doesn’t trust Sami, he grabs Sami by the throat, but then Sami counters with a small package! TWO! And then they brawl! That’s what fans want!

The fight spills to the outside, Kevin putting Sami right into barriers. Kevin then brings Sami into bomb position, and lifts Sami up, but Sami saves himself by grabbing ropes. Kevin joins Sami on the apron and tries from there, but Sami resists to back drop Kevin onto the apron. They both fall to the floor, and Shane sits nearby to watch and enjoy it. However, Sami locks eyes on Shane. “Is this what you wanted? Got a good enough seat, Shane?!” Shane stands up to Sami, but Sami continues to accuse the “tough guy” of conspiring to drive the two apart. Sami sees Kevin coming and dodges, the SUPERKICK goes into Shane!

Kevin sees what he just did but isn’t all that bothered by it. Sami then hits Kevin with the daredevil DDT! Sami is enraged while the fans continue to say “This is Awesome!” He drags Kevin up and in, and takes aim from opposite corners. Sami runs but into the SUPERKICK! Ziggler returns, but Kevin bucks the Zig-Zag away to then Pop-Up Powerbomb! Cover, Shane drags the referee out?! Shane screws Kevin all over again! Kevin glares at Shane, but then Sami HELLUVA Kicks! Only for Shane to drag Sami out! Now Shane’s screwed Sami all over again! Ziggler uses this opening to go for a cover, but Sami breaks the cover just in time! Shane backs off to his seat again while Sami, Kevin and Ziggler are all down.

Corbin returns, and runs Cena over with steel steps. Corbin puts the steps into the ring, and takes aim to run Sami over. He aims at Ziggler and runs Ziggler over. Then he hits Kevin. Corbin grins as he sees Cena returning, dazed and wobbly. Corbin runs at Cena, but Cena blocks the steps! Cena kicks Corbin and hits him with the stairs, three times! Cena puts the steps down, and lines it up. Fireman’s carry, AA to the steps!

Cover, but Ziggler barely breaks it in time. Corbin gets away, and Cena feels the frustration. Ziggler crawls to ropes, Cena lifts the steps, and tosses them! Ziggler evades and SUPERKICKS, but Cena back with an AA! Roll through, to another- No, Kevin is back and he hits Cena with the Pop-Up Powerbomb! PHENOMENAL FOREARM OUTTA NOWHERE!! Styles wins!! Styles uses the chaos to his favor to defy the odds and retain the WWE Championship! That keeps the Wrestlemania Moment he and the King of Strong Style both wanted right where it is!

But while Styles basks in Phenomenal glory, Cena wallows in uncertainty. Is there no way for the still only 16-time world champion to make it to Wrestlemania 34?

 

My Thoughts:

There was a lot of confusion and awkwardness in the build to this SmackDown-only PPV, but Fastlane itself did a lot to push that aside and give us great action tonight. They didn’t really give much time to advertise the kickoff’s six man tag, but the match itself was pretty good considering how poorly Tye, Mojo, Breezango & Benjamin-Gable have been used. If anything, that match should be reason enough to give these six to do relevant things in the near future. Opening the main show with Nakamura-Rusev, and in an extended match, was a really good move for everyone. It gives people exposure to Nakamura, it gives fans plenty of Rusev, and therefore gets the show heated up right away.

Though, the opening pace of Roode-Orton kinda killed some of that. It got better by the end but it would’ve been great if they managed some of the energy created by Nakamura-Rusev. Mahal coming out was somewhat telegraphed by the kickoff as well as his backstage viewing, but I thought it would’ve been as interference. Him just calling out Orton was better, actually, especially with Roode ruining Mahal’s attack while also attacking Orton. Many feel the plan is a triple threat for the US Championship, and that can still work with how this was set up at the end. The Women’s Tag was fun, with only a few mishaps, and mostly surprising that Carmella won.

The Smackdown Tag Team title match was full of great surprises, like both teams using the other’s signature moves to try and defeat them. It speaks to how familiar they are with each other after all the matches they’ve had. Then Harper & Rowan showing up to “ruin” the match and brutalize all five of them was incredible. I don’t know why the Wyatt Family wasn’t used like this when it was three (and then four) of them, but given the kayfabe injuries for Xavier Woods and how this has become personal for the Usos and New Day, I imagine another triple threat for SmackDown at Wrestlemania with these three teams.

The SmackDown Women’s Championship match was great. Ruby was able to keep up with Charlotte, and there was some good story with The Squad, Naomi & Becky showing up, to then get banned later. Charlotte winning was expected, but Asuka showing up was not! It’s great to see her going after the champion who would give her the best match, but it did keep Carmella from cashing in. Maybe Carmella will try in the last four weeks we have before Wrestlemania, but maybe she will wait until after.

Then that Six Pack Challenge, that was a really great match. The Fatal 5 from last SmackDown was fun, and this did improve upon it thanks to Cena’s presence. I didn’t expect him to dish out so many AA’s just to start things off. Shane just can’t help himself, though, can he? This speaks a lot to what we’ve heard about the rest of the ‘Mania card, though… Styles VS Nakamura is still happening, so that’s great. Cena’s fate is still undetermined, but that might lead to something really great for him and fans.

My Score: 8.5/10

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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/23/24)

The Raw Before Christmas!

Published

16 hours ago

on

December 23, 2024

By

The Hollywood A-Lister’s got his own nightmare before Christmas!

Christmas is just a few days away, but things aren’t merry and bright for Raw! The Miz must face his fears as he faces Dexter Lumis 1v1!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky; Iyo wins and advances to the next round.
  • Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy; Gable wins.
  • Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest; Damian Priest wins, by disqualification.
  • The Miz VS Dexter Lumis; Lumis wins, by disqualification.
  • Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Drew McIntyre walks to gorilla.

The Scottish Terminator makes his way through the curtain and to the stage, and the fans have a mixed reaction as he goes to the ring. McIntyre grabs a mic, and he says, “After Hell in a Cell, I’ve never been so beat up in my entire life. 16 staples in my head, my back almost broken from landing on the steel steps. And I went home to Scotland. The reason I went home, and I haven’t really talked about it publicly, is because a very close family member passed away. Some people probably feeling sympathy right now. Some guys in the back are probably talking to each other, saying, ‘I didn’t know.’ Maybe if you cared enough, you would’ve asked.

“Over these past two months, guess how many people phoned me to check. Not how I was doing mentally but how I was doing physically after Hell in a Cell. ONE PERSON! These past 17 years, I’ve been led to believe we’re all a big happy family in the back. We’re brothers and sisters, we travel the world together, we spend more time with each other than with our actual families, but it’s all BS! My brother, John, in Scotland wouldn’t stab me in the back to take my spot, but people like Jimmy, Jey and Sami 100% would.” The fans boo that, then chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” McIntyre says that proves his point.

After watching everything The Bloodline did, Jey says he is a changed man. He does a cute hand sign, he says a made-up word, and the fans just forget about it and move on. That’s the other thing McIntyre realized: He has given and given and given all this time, and the fans turned on him for a guy who was gone for years and has told the WWE fans to go screw themselves! McIntyre was fighting for the fans, he thought they believed in him, so he believed in the fans! McIntyre bled out in the cell, and while he was gone, the fans instantly forgot him! The fans boo, that’s not true! But McIntyre says from now on, he gives no more for anybody!

McIntyre will take and take and he will tell the truth! The real villains are Roman Reigns and CM Punk! And if you choose to prop them up, as he already said, Jey, Jimmy & Sami, the things Roman did to you… Roman took a vacation, then simply snapped his fingers and they were by his side again! McIntyre suggests everyone who ever wronged McIntyre should sleep with one eye open. But wait, here comes Sami Zayn! The fans cheer and sing for Sami but Sami says hey, McIntyre is angry, he doesn’t have to believe Sami in place of believing everyone has ulterior motives. Sami doesn’t blame him.

But personally, man to man, Sami did not know what happened with McIntyre’s family. They figured he was recovering from one of the most vicious matches of all time. Sami thought that, all the guys ‘n’ girls in the back thought, and that’s all the fans thought. Believe that or not, fine, but Sami wants to level with McIntyre. Talk about 17 years, Sami has 22 years in this game. Sami’s been through what McIntyre’s been through. Sami’s had losses. Trust him. He has had losses he had to put on the side and go to work that week. The same sacrifices, from birthdays to weddings to funerals that he should’ve been at? Sami’s done it all.

Sami has put unnecessary stress on his wife, on his kid, and why? Because this is the life that they both chose! They are WWE SUPERSTARS! The fans cheer that! And as such, they are LUCKY to be WWE Superstars! And you think this is just your story or Sami’s story? Y’know who else has stories like this? Every single person sitting in the stands. Every single person at home! The kids who struggle at school, the adults who struggle at work, who struggle economically, physically, and they have their losses and sacrifices, but they still get up every day to do what they gotta do to soldier on, without pointing a finger at everyone else!

The fans fire up for that passion. Sami says McIntyre dares pointing a finger at the fans for forgetting him?! They didn’t forget, brother! They MADE McIntyre! And McIntyre still thinks the world revolves around him just because once upon a time, someone told him he was “The Chosen One.” But newsflash, just because you’re mad doesn’t make you special. And now McIntyre thinks everyone else is somehow tied to him? What Jimmy does has nothing to do with McIntyre. What Jey does has nothing to do with McIntyre! What SAMI does has nothing to do with McIntyre!

But McIntyre, if you want to still walk around all angry and pointing fingers at the fans, at Sami, at Jey, at Jimmy, at Punk, at Roman, and still be mad about The Bloodline, fine. No one is stopping McIntyre. But Sami has no problem being McIntyre’s problem and facing him in this ring right now! McIntyre says if Sami wants to know the truth… IT isn’t just anger. McIntyre’s anger comes from pain, and he doesn’t doubt what Sami just said. There was so much truth and passion, but it’s never the whole truth, is it? Sami has a way of spinning things. Because Sami can fly back home every week to his family. McIntyre is halfway across the world from his!

And no one here in Boston ever leaves Boston, they’re with their families 24/7! McIntyre doesn’t have that luxury! The fans boo that veiled insult, but McIntyre says he will remain calm and ask Sami why he wants this fight. They both know the result, we saw it time and time again, Sami has NEVER beaten McIntyre. So McIntyre suggests, given Sami isn’t 100%, and Sami’s wife and kid are here tonight… Sami should just walk back there, take their hands, and leave this arena. Of all those in the Bloodline, Sami is the least of McIntyre’s worries.

Sami says McIntyre is right about a couple things. When it comes to win-loss records, McIntyre has Sami’s number. And Sami is not 100%. Haven’t been since Saturday Night’s Main Event. And yes, the smart thing would be to just go home, celebrate and get healthy over the holidays. But Sami would so much rather do this. Sami fires hands! The fans fire up but McIntyre shoves Sami away. McIntyre swings, but gets caught! Sami lifts but McIntyre fights free, then GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! McIntyre takes aim, but here comes JEY USO! The fans fire up as Jey runs down the ramp, slides in, and then dodges McIntyre to SUPERKICK!

The fans fire up as Jey & Sami DOUBLE LARIAT McIntyre up and outta the ring! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” with Jey & Sami Uso! Will the Scottish Terminator’s mission be ended when Sami and/or Jey shut him down?

 

Adam Pearce is met by Pure Fusion Collective.

The Raw General Manager asks Sonya Deville what he can do for her and she says not much. She knows how stressful this job can be since she once had it. She’s just here to make things easier. And how’s that? Well, Kairi Sane is not cleared to compete, there is an opening in the tournament, and Sonya wants it. Oh, is that so? Y’know, Sonya, that is a terrible idea. They caused this scenario so he’s just gonna reward them? Are they outta their minds? And zip it! Plus, he already filled that vacancy with Iyo Sky. Happy Holidays! PFC is upset by that since Iyo just lost to Liv Morgan, but will there be nothing to stop the Evil Genius now?

 

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky!

Just as Pearce said, PFC taking out the Pirate Princess will not mean they get away with murder! The Queen of Harts and the Fire Keeper must now figure out how to handle this change to the program. Will Iyo redeem herself for losing Saturday Night’s Main Event by moving on to the next round?

Raw returns and Alba makes her entrance, Isla Dawn seeing her to the ramp, and then Natalya makes her entrance. The bell rings and Alba kicks Natty then ELBOWS Iyo! Alba whips but Natty reverses and Alba tumbles out of the ring! Iyo rolls Natty, TWO! Iyo whips, Natty dodges in the corner and gets Iyo up! REBOUND SIT-DOWN, and then Natty steps on Iyo, only for Alba to trip Natty up! Alba brings Natty out to send into steel steps! But then Iyo DIVES onto Alba! The fans fire up with Iyo and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Natty brawls with Abla. Alba knees low, but Iyo CROSBODIES them both down! The fans fire up and Iyo SHOTEIS Alba! And SHOTEIS her again! And then DROPKICKS her down! Iyo brings Alba around, whips, but Alba reverses. Iyo goes up and out, then blocks a shot to ROCK Alba! The fans fire up, Iyo spirnboards, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Iyo handsprings up and the fans fire up again! Iyo gets the fans going, but Alba wrenches and facelocks, TORNADO DDT! Alba gets Iyo up again to GOURD BUSTER her onto Natty! Alba then rearranges them into the drop zone!

Alba goes up, the fans are torn, but Alba grins as she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover on Iyo, TWO! Cover on Natty, TWO! But into a KOJI KLUTCH! Natty endures, flails, fights around, but Alba holds on tight! Natty pushes, stacks Alba, TWO!! Natty has the legs! Alba flails now, but Iyo runs up! Natty trips Iyo onto Alba, and she has them both! Natty turns them both over, DOUBLE SHARPSHOOTER!! Iyo and Alba both flail, both claw at the mat, and Alba gets the ROPEBREAK! No disqualifications so Natty can hold on! But now Iyo drags herself under the ropes, and there’s no room left, so Natty has to let go!

Natty rises up and she stalks Iyo to the apron. Natty drags Iyo up but Iyo HOTSHOTS Natty! Natty staggers, rebounds, but Iyo jumps the baseball slide! Natty hits Alba down, and then Iyo PENALTY KICKS Natty! Iyo fires up and springboards, ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit on both targets and the fans fire up! Iyo hurries to get Natty up and into the ring, then she drags Natty into the drop zone. Iyo climbs, but Alba CLUBS Iyo first! Alba snarls as she climbs up, but Iyo holds onto ropes! Natty CLUBS Alba and she adds on! SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX on Alba! But Iyo stays up top to go OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Iyo wins!

Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)

The Genius of the Sky moves on, ready to fly against The Morrigan! Will Iyo be able to get past Lyra Valkyria and head for the title?

 

Judgment Day sulks in the clubhouse.

Finn Balor tells JD McDonagh that he can’t believe this. This was supposed to be a Merry Christmas, Finn was supposed to be celebrating with two titles, and now he has none! Liv Morgan tells Raquel Rodriguez to tell Finn that the reason she suggested he stay away from Damian Priest is because she knew this would happen. Raquel starts to relay the message, but Finn has JD tell Liv that she’s got her own problems to worry about and to stay off his back. But then Liv tells Raquel to tell Finn that the reason she’s “on his back” is because he lost the tag titles. JD, tell Liv that Christmas is-

Dominik speaks up to stop the arguing. Christmas IS around the corner, and now they’re not even talking to each other? Dom says he’s gonna go talk with Pearce and get a match with Priest! Dom’s gonna step up for this family. Oh, Dom thinks he’s better than Finn? No, it’s not even like that. Dom has a plan. He’ll talk with Pearce then fill everyone in later. Dom heads out, JD prays for one week of no drama while it’s Christmas. Will Dirty Dom make sure The Punisher pays for screwing Finn & JD over? Or will Priest be given the gift of sending Dom South of Heaven?

 

Sami and Jey regroup backstage.

Sami can’t believe Jey didn’t text or call about the comeback. Jey says, “My bad.” But Sami says it’s fine, he’s happy Jey is back. And thanks for having his back out there tonight and every night, Sami appreciates Jey. Jey thanks Sami for that, and says you know he had to come back for payback. Jey is gonna handle business! Actually, Sami was kinda hoping he could handle McIntyre. Sami talked a big game, he’s gotta back it up. But Sami, you’re not even 100% tonight. Sami knows, but he started something so he has to finish it. Jey says alright. He’s got next! They secret handshake and Jey wishes Sami luck. Will Sami finally get a win on McIntyre in a Christmas miracle?

 

Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy!

As “Master” Gable said last week, it was about time he settled things with his past. Will Gable prove to the world that he was always the reason the Alpha Academy was relevant? Or will he find out he can’t keep up with the Stamina Monster?

Raw returns and the #AlphaBabes make their entrance, showing off that new merch while they’re at it. The bell rings and the fans rally up. Tozawa and Gable tie up, Gable wrenches and talks trash right to Tozawa’s face! Gable CHOPS Tozawa down, stands him up, CHOPS him down again, repeat! Gable whips and CLOBBERS Tozawa, then raises the fist. The fans boo more but Gable talks smack on Otis. Gable drags Tozawa up, suplexes, but Tozawa slips free! Tozawa SOBATS, spins, slides under, and SPIN KCIKS! Gable goes to a corner and Tozawa puts him up! But Gable gets Tozawa for a HANGING ARMBAR!

Otis protests, the ref counts, and Gable lets off at 4. Gable says he didn’t break a rule, and Otis never learns. Gable SLAPS Otis, slides into the ring, but Tozawa victory rolls! TWO, but Tozawa SUPERKICKS Gable down! Tozawa rips the shirt off, goes up top, and SUPER SENTRONS onto knees! Gable saves himself and hauls Tozawa up to GERMAN SUPELX! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! Gable GERMAN SUPLEXES again! But he isn’t done, Gable spins Tozawa around, and POWERBOMBS him! ANKLE LOCK!! Tozawa flails but he’s so far from the ropes! Tozawa TAPS, Gable wins!

Winner: Chad Gable, by submission

But Gable won’t let go! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Gable just drops into a GRAPEVINE! So Otis storms in and he drags Gable off the leg! Otis TOSSES Gable! The fans are thunderous, but Team American Made steps up to support Gable. Gable says Otis never learns! But Otis’ hips are moving! He’s shaking, quaking, and the fans fire up, but American Made backs off. Will Gable finally fight Otis and put this beef to rest?

 

The New Day talks backstage.

They still don’t understand how everyone here doesn’t see things their way. But then Dirty Dom walks over, clapping with “New! Day Rocks!” Finally, someone who understands! Dom says he never liked Big E, but uh, no, what they did was crazy. Well, whatever, Broke Ass Tom Selleck! Dom says Tom Selleck wishes! Dirty Dom heads for gorilla, ready to fight for the Judgment Day. But will Dom go from “Broke Ass Tom Selleck” to just broken?

 

Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest!

Judgment Day’s history has always been a rocky one, but it has never been rockier than right now. Betraying Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest probably has a lot to do with it, but will Dom be able to smooth things over by taking Damian down? Or will Priest finally beat some sense into #LatinoCheat?

The bell rings and Dom bails right out! Dom dares Priest to come get him, but Priest says Dom needs to get back in the ring. Priest will even give him a free shot! Dom storms up to the apron, steps in, and takes that swing, but Priest blocks it! Then Priest BELL CLAPS Dom, DECKS him, then DECKS him again! Dom staggers around, Priest picks him up to SLAM DUNK! Dom staggers back up, into a torture rack! Priest bends Dom with the Argentine Backbreaker! Priest then THROWS Dom down and the fans fire up. Priest paces around, powers up his arm, and Dom rises. The fans rally and Priest runs, but Dom ducks a lariat!

Dom kicks, CLUBS and KICKS again! SUPERKICK! Then DROPKCIK! Priest staggers but Dom hurries to stalk behind him. Priest sits up first and glares at Dom. Dom panics, but he DUMPS Priest out! Dom builds speed to DIVE, but into Priest’s hands! FLATLINER onto the desk! The fans fire up and Priest drags Dom up to then POST him! Dom falls in a heap, but Priest puts Dom in the ring. Priest then notices a very suspicious Santa Claus. Priest snatches the beard away, and tada! It’s JD! Priest TOSSES JD and the fans cheer! JD wants mercy but Priest SLIDES him across the desk! The fans fire up as Wade narrowly avoids getting hit!

Priest then has a Spider Sense moment, and he looks under the ring! Carlito spits out his apple in surprise! Priest drags Carlito up and TOSSES him into the timekeeper’s area! But then Finn attacks!

Winner: Damian Priest, by disqualification

Finn fires hands, but Priest blocks the desk bump! Priest body shots and SMACKS Finn off the desk! And again, and again! Priest puts Finn in the ring, Dom runs up, but Priest DECKS him! Priest fires more hands on Finn, but the Judgment Day regroups! They mug Priest 4v1 as usual, and JD even drops elbows! The fans boo but the Judgment Day stand Priest up. WAIT! Here comes the War Raiders! Erik & Ivar fire hands on Dom & Carlito, and Priest TOSSES JD! Finn realizes he’s alone, and Priest SUPERKICKS him down! Priest stomps a mudhole into Finn, the Raiders put Carlito and Dom in the ring!

Ivar KNEES Carlito, then feeds him to Erik’s KNEE! The fans cheer, JD gets up, but Priest LARIATS him inside-out! Dom is fed to the WAR MACHINE!! Finn staggers up, but Priest grabs him! And Finn goes SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! The Judgment Day just got further embarrassed, and that’s not even considering JD’s Santa costume. Will the War Raiders be some unlikely allies for Priest in this ongoing war with the Judgment Day?

 

Sit-down interview with Seth Rollins.

Jackie Redmond thanks The Visionary for taking this time to talk with her, and he says it is his pleasure. Jackie talked with CM Punk and heard what he had to say, what Punk believes, when it comes to Rollins’ hatred for Punk. And we have heard from Rollins, as well, but Jackie’s still just curious. What is the root cause, the driving force, of this disdain he clearly feels for CM Punk? Rollins says the thing is, he has tried to explain how he feels many times over the years, and it sort of… Well, he won’t say he’s talking into the wind, but Rollins just feels Punk has needed the WWE more than the WWE needed him.

And so that hypocrisy from Punk is what just eats at Rollins. It is hard for Rollins to let that go. Jackie mentions how Rollins has talked about getting rid of it by “cutting it out” and fighting through it, and how this fight with Punk has to happen as a catharsis. What does “cutting” Punk out look like? What should we expect from, not even so much a match, that doesn’t feel like the right word now. Rollins says it’ll be fight. That’s what we’re getting, no question. It is the biggest fight in their sport right now, and Rollins needs it now. After Survivor Series, seeing Punk hand-in-hand with Roman Reigns… Roman’s finger in the air, Punk doing the stupid Go To Sleep thing…

Rollins just wanted to throw the remote through his TV, he was so viscerally, internally destroyed. Rollins felt that was it, no more waiting. The world needs to see it. This is perfect. The Netflix debut, the world will be watching. But to answer the question, he doesn’t know what it’ll look like. You might see a side of Rollins that no one’s ever seen. No pun intended, it will be raw, visceral, violent. Rollins needs to exorcise this demon from his soul, he has to cut the cancer out of his brain, or he is going down. Then the only way to process the betrayal is to go through a fight, and we get that on January 6th, Raw in LA for Netflix.

Jackie thanks Rollins for the time and his honesty. Rollins says yeah, he can’t wait. Will Rollins truly #BurnItDown when it comes to fight CM Punk?

 

The Miz VS Dexter Lumis!

The Hollywood A-Lister has his own history with the man now turned buzzard, and things are only worse now that this is about the Final Testament and the Wyatt Sick6. Will Miz manage to bury the past once and for all? Or will he get no mercy from Lumis?

Raw returns as Miz waits. A message flashes, “I OPENED THE DOOR,” and then the lights go down. And from that mysterious door to the other side, out steps Lumis. He takes off the Mercy the Buzzard mask, then rushes the ring! Miz scrambles right out as Lumis slithers along the mat! The fans cheer Lumis on while Miz tentatively returns to the ring. The bell rings, Miz wants Lumis to hold on, but Lumis swings hands! Miz bobs ‘n’ weaves, then throws a punch! Lumis just glares at Miz! Miz runs away, Lumis gives chase, and they go around the outside, then back inside! Lumis drags Miz out of the ring to ROCK him!

Miz staggers, Lumis THROWS him into barriers! The fans cheer, Lumis ROCKS Miz again, and then Lumis SMACKS Miz off the apron! Lumis pushes Miz into the ring, Miz bails out, but Lumis goes out to the apron. CANNONBALL! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up. Lumis CLUBS Miz, stalks him, then puts him in the ring. Miz again asks for mercy, but then he tries a cheap kick! Lumis blocks and UPPERCUTS! Lumis scoops, Miz slips free and Miz BOOTS Lumis! Miz runs, but into a THESZ PRESS! Lumis rains down fast hands, then runs to AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up.

Miz breaks free to throat chop! The ref reprimands but Miz runs, only for Lumis to catch him! URENAGE! Lumis storms around, then goes looks to the corner. Lumis climbs, but wait, the Authors of Pain are here! So Lumis CANNONBALLS onto them! The fans fire up but Kross attacks!

Winner: Dexter Lumis, by disqualification

The Final Testament beats Lumis up and puts him in the ring. Miz stands, confident now that he has reinforcements. Kross says they’ve got Lumis where they want him, but Lumis looks to the sky. Seems it’s the other way around! The lights go down, and when they come up, the rest of the Wyatts are here! They brawl with Final Testament and then send them running! Nikki wants uppies, and Erik Rowan pops her up to POWERBOMB her out onto The Final Testament! Nikki is all fired up as the Wyatts stand together! Will The Final Testament be the one buried and forgotten after all is said and done?

 

The War Raiders regroup backstage.

Erik & Ivar are fired up after getting the better of Judgment Day, and then Priest walks in. He says what’s up, and they give him some pushes and shoves of excitement. Priest says okay, okay, settle down. But that was good, and he appreciates the save. Ivar says hey, they’ve all known each other a long time. And while they haven’t always seen eye to eye, there has always been honor here. They may not be friends, but Priest had their backs in a big way last week and they don’t forget that. They owed him, they got him. Priest respects that. If the War Raiders are at war with the Judgment Day, then he’ll go to war with them.

They all fist bump, and Erik & Ivar say they like the sound of that. Could these three finally tear down Judgment Day once and for all?

 

The zero symbol returns…

And now it’s joined by a pentagram? What could these clues be leading to?

 

The New Day barges out to ringside.

And Kofi Kingston tells Joe Tessitore & Wade Barrett on commentary that no no no no! You do not get to speak about them like that! Woods asks what is going on around here? What happened to unbiased journalism? How long has Tessitore even been with the WWE? Not that long, right? Certainly not long enough to know that his job is not to have an opinion but to tell the TRUTH like they have! But it seems in 2024, no one wants the truth! Certainly not these fans. Wade was sympathizing with E as well! Well that’s fine, because Wade and Big E have something in common. They’re not man enough to lace up their boots again and get in the ring!

The fans boo now but Kofi says speaking of getting back int he ring, allow the New Day to do that and continue to tell everyone what they were trying to tell people before. They did NOT put hands on Big E. They could have, laid him out here in the ring, stretchered out of the building again, but they didn’t! So why is everyone so upset!? The fans keep booing but Kofi says this was supposed to be a homecoming for Kofi, and for the woman he bought a plane ticket for to come all the way here to Boston from Ghana, and that is Kofi’s mom! Kofi’s mom is in the front row! Miss Elizabeth Kingston is here, but she doesn’t seem very amused.

Kofi says his mom sat in the middle seat for 20 HOURS, just to see Kofi, and the fans are ruining her experience! This is his mother! The woman who taught him how to be the man that he is today! She does not deserve to see her son get booed out of his own hometown! Woods says they gave the fans ten of the best years of their LIVES…! Kofi steps back outside to apologize to his mom for the fans. She does not deserve this. Kofi doesn’t understand why they’re doing this. Kofi wants a hug. Miss Elizabeth stands up, but she pushes Kofi! She’s upset with HIM, not the fans! Miss Elizabeth takes her coat and leaves! Kofi is confused, what’s this about?

Kofi calls after his mom but she tunes him out. Though, it might be hard to hear over the fans. Will it ever get through to the New Day that they are in the wrong?

 

The New Day regroups backstage.

And then they cross paths with Rey Mysterio. Woods asks if he’s gonna pile on. Rey says no, it’s not like that. Rey thought about what they said last week, being a locker room leader and all. Rey definitely could’ve handled things better, so he’ll apologize to them. Rey just has the responsibility to help everyone as much as he can. So hey, what New Day did was out of pocket, all foul. And if they want to start fixing things, they can start by apologizing. Whoa, hold up. Them? Apologize to Rey and the locker room? No, they aren’t apologizing, because they didn’t do anything wrong! This is ridiculous!

Rey is just as bad as Big E and everyone else! Why not let Woods pop that mask off again so he can hear them better. New Day did nothing wrong. Rey says okay, fine, que pasa nada. Just don’t say he didn’t try. From this point on, New Day is on their own. And oh, get used to hearing this. “New! Day SUCKS!” With that, Rey takes his leave. After hearing that, will Kofi & Woods have anything but a Merry Christmas?

 

Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre!

The Honorary Uce may have just lost to the Scottish Terminator at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but he isn’t going to give up the fight. Will Sami finally get a win over McIntyre as a Christmas miracle? Or will McIntyre ruin the holidays with a Claymore?

Raw returns and Sami makes his entrance. The bell rings and McIntyre kicks low! McIntyre fires hands, then CHOPS Sami in a corner! McIntyre ROCKS Sami, stands him up, and then CHOPS again! The fans are torn but McIntyre paces while Sami sits down. Sami rises up, and he avoids a chop to fire hands! The fans fire up as Sami CHOPS and fires more punches! The ref backs Sami off, but Sami comes back to stomp and punch! The fans rally behind “SAMI USO!” and Sami whips Mcintyre corner to corner. McIntyre reverses, Sami goes up, but McIntyre KICKS him out of the air!

McIntyre snarls and then he deadlift suplexes Sami! Sami writhes and clutches his back, but McIntyre storms over to him. McIntyre STMOPS Sami’s hands! Then he ROCKS Sami with a right! Sami goes to ropes but McIntyre CHOPS him again! The fans “WOO~!” as that chop echoes out! The fans rally for Sami but McIntyre grins. McIntyre whips but Sami KICKS him in return! Mcintyre comes back but Sami TOSSES him out! The fans fire up and Sami builds speed, but then Mcintyre moves so Sami Arabian Presses to land back inside. Sami smiles as he gets the better of McIntyre, and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Sami is in the corner. McIntyre storms up to stomp away on him again! The ref backs McIntyre off but then McIntyre storms back up. McIntyre drag’s Sami up to the apron, and he suplexes Sami up and into the ring! Sami flounders to the ropes and the ref checks him. Sami says he’s still in this, so McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami CHOPS McIntyre! And CHOSP! And fires forearms! Sami whips, McIntyre reverses but Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for McIntyre to tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sami survives and McIntyre grows annoyed. The fans rally up but Sami writhes form all the damage.

McIntyre stalks Sami to the ropes, eggs him on, and then whips him to ropes. Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges again, and this time Sami tilt-o-whirls to DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Sami and McIntyre both rise up, and McIntyre bails out. Sami storms up to ropes, grits his teeth, and he PLANCHAS! But McIntyre catches him! And then he aims for the desk! Sami fights free, and he DRIBBLES McIntyre off the desk! Sami backs off as the ring count climbs, but Sami goes back for McIntyre. McIntyre stops the step bump to SMACK Sami off the steps! McIntyre refreshes the ring count because he wants to do more damage!

McIntyre stalks Sami up the steps, then lifts him for an APRON BACKBREAKER!! Sami falls and writhes, and McIntyre has a manic look on his face as he watches Sami suffer, but Raw goes to break.

Raw returns once again and Mcintyre has Sami in the Inverted Alabama Lift! INVERTED ALABAMA- VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! McIntyre escapes and runs up, but Sami dodges! McIntyre POSTS himself! The fans fire up as McIntyre flops back, and Sami hurries to the corner! Sami climbs, but his back slows him down! McIntyre ROCKS Sami first! And then CHOPS him! McIntyre climbs up after Sami, fires some shots, then fireman’s carries Sami! SUPER WHITE NOISE! A shoutout to Sheamus and McIntyre covers, TWO!! The fans fire up while McIntyre grows frustrated. Sami stirs but McIntyre watches him closely.

The fans rally and McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami cradle counters! TWO! McIntyre GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Sami falls and McIntyre snarls. McIntyre goes to a corner, and he takes aim at Sami. Here comes the countdown! “THREE! TWO! ONE!” But Sami LARIATS McIntyre! And then a clinch, EXPLODER into the corner! Sami goes to the other side and the fans fire up! Sami aims as McIntyre rises, but that back tightens up. Sami fights through the pain, gets running, but CLAYMORE!! Cover, McIntyre wins!

Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall

That was perhaps the closest Sami’s come, but he was still so far away from victory over McIntyre. 3-0 in 2024, 10-0 overall, and McIntyre stands over Sami to rub it in. Sami is already dazed, but McIntyre rains down fists! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but McIntyre shoves the ref away to HAMMER Sami down! But here comes Jey, just like earlier tonight! Jey runs in, dodges again, and this time, SPEAR!! Jey has Mcintyre down, but now he goes up! But wait! TAMA TONGA SHOVES JEY OFF THE TOP!! Solo Sikoa & The Bloodline are here! McIntyre is just as surprised, but given the truce they called on Friday, McIntyre takes his leave.

The Bloodline beat down Sami & Jey, which McIntyre loves to see. Tama Tonga rains down fists on Main Event Jey in a corner, but the fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” Instead, Jacob Fatu gets running! But Jey dodges the hip attack! SUPERKICK for Tama! Jey fires haymakers on Jacob! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Solo steps in to swing, but Jey dodges! Jey ROCKS Solo! Jacob SUPERKICKS Jey! The fans boo as the Samoan Werewolf gets all geeked up! Solo adds his SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo throws off his jacket, sits Jey back up, but Sami gets in! Sami fires hands, but Tama TACKLES Sami! Tama beats Sami down and fans boo again.

Solo tells Tama to set Sami up, and Tama stomps Sami into the corner. Jacob runs in, to HIP ATTACK! Jacob isn’t done, he puts Sami in the drop zone to go up, up and BEST MOONSAULT EVER! The fans boo but Solo adds on another SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo roars, then he and his Bloodline stand over the OGs. Jacob adorns Solo with the ula fala, will not even Roman Reigns be able to stop the “Undisputed” Tribal Chief? Will all of the WWE have no choice but to acknowledge Solo Sikoa?

My Thoughts:

A great Raw here to build both the last Raw of 2024 and the first Raw of 2025, aka the Netflix debut. Rollins had a very good interview promo to add just a little more to things, but I feel like there’s little left that they need to say. Very good stuff with Judgment Day, such as the classic “X, can you tell Y…” gag from Finn and Liv. Dom thinking their plan to screw Priest over would work is hilarious, as was how it all fell apart. Priest gets the win from disqualification, but then great save from the War Raiders. Good promo from Priest and War Raiders, love the reference to ROH by saying “honor” there, and that’s a solid Six Man Tag right there.

Fun little bit from Pearce with Pure Fusion Collective, and of course Sonya thought she’d get a second chance, and of course Pearce uses real logic to say no way. Iyo Sky replacing Kairi Sane was announced last week on social media, so I guess Sonya didn’t check between shows. Great Triple Threat from Iyo, Alba and Natty, and of course Iyo won or else why put her in there? Iyo VS Lyra next round will be great stuff, as will Dakota Kai VS Zoey Stark, and whatever combination we get for the title match is going to be great. I don’t think we’ll get DMG CTRL VS DMG CTRL, so if Dakota wins, Iyo loses, and then vice-versa.

Great stuff with American Made and Alpha Academy, but of course Tozawa takes the loss. Otis standing up to Gable & The Creeds was a great moment, and I really hope we get Gable VS Otis for the big Netflix debut. Win or lose, Otis should definitely have a moment where he rallies through Gable and both Creeds, really get the crowd hot before the finish. Miz VS Lumis was good but could’ve been better. With only two hours, I guess they had to trim things down to the basics. Another disqualification finish tonight is a bit much, but I guess it keeps things going until we can come up with some kind of new 8 Man Tag, or even a really wild Mixed 10 Person match so Nikki and Scarlett can get involved legally.

Great stuff with New Day, from their interaction with Dom, then their “interrupting” the show to try and get their point across. It was great to have Mama Kingston there, and I just knew she would be disappointed in Kofi. Good promo with Rey, too, as Rey now leaves New Day out in the cold. I feel like we need a big tag team match to not only have Heel New Day show their stuff against like LWO, Alpha Academy, etcetera, and then they earn their way to a match with the War Raiders to revisit their feud, just with flipped Heel and Face dynamics. That could be some really good stuff as Raw on Netflix paves the road to WrestleMania 41.

And great stuff with McIntyre and the extended Bloodline. He and Sami had a great promo to again bring up family and sacrifice, but also how Roman’s OG Bloodline came back together without Roman ever changing a thing. Great brawls, great saves by Jey, and of course McIntyre won the match. Jey will of course get next, probably also for the Netflix debut, but good stuff with Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline showing up. They beat down Jey & Sami to send a message to Roman, who was obviously not going to be here tonight. There will surely be a response in part on SmackDown, but maybe more verbal than physical.

I feel like the “Transfer Window” will need to put all Bloodline members, old and new, on one brand so the story can be told all on one show. It’d just be easier while Jimmy’s foot is healing, because what can Roman do without backup against Solo, Tama & Jacob? And honestly, still waiting on when and where Hikuleo is going to show up. This is a good time to bring him in with Tonga Loa also hurt, so Solo can get the numbers edge on Roman again.

My Score: 8.8/10

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Mitchell’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome Results & Report! (12/22/24)

Empire VS Emperor!

Published

1 day ago

on

December 22, 2024

By

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome

The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!

As 2024 nears an end, Great-O-Khan defends the KOPW Championship one more time, against a former KOPW Champion in Taichi! Who will be THE 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Kickoff – Chase Your Dream Match: Shoma Kato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
  • Boltin Oleg VS Satoshi Kojima; Boltin wins.
  • Triple Threat Tag: Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita & Yujiro win.
  • DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS El Desperado & Master Wato; Desperado & Wato win.
  • Fatal 4 Way: Kevin Knight VS Robbie Eagles VS Francesco Akira VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Eagles wins.
  • Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
  • Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
  • KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi; Khan wins and is the definitive 2024 KOPW Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

After the Triple Threat Tag…

The House of Torture of course cheated to win, but they wouldn’t leave it at that! They waited until the United Empire and TMDK argued with each other to then attack them all! Yujiro Takahashi CLUBS Oiwa down while Narita shoves Cobb into big Hartley Jackson! And then Narita JAMS Cobb with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Narita JAMS Oiwa up, too! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style is so proud of himself as he holds up his NJPW World TV Championship, but wait. Christmas music starts playing? The fans clap along as surprise! Santa and his reindeer are here! Well, one reindeer. But shouldn’t the House of Torture be on the naughty list?

Santa Claus walks over, and he gets the mic. He sounds familiar as he tells, “Narita-san… You have a Christmas present waiting. Would you like it now?” Narita asks what the heck is going on. Santa steps into the ring and offers Narita the little tiny bag. Narita snatches the bag, then he and Yujiro look at it. The fans asks, “Nani nani? <What is it?>” Narita tells them to shut up. Narita gets the bag open and pulls out… Blue sunglasses! With LED lights! The fans cheer as the lights go down! “E! L! P!” EL PHANTASMO IS HERE! The Headbanga has been battling cancer, but he’s here in Korakuen Hall!

Narita is furious but ELP slides right into the ring! Narita & Yujiro run away, but the fans cheer ELP on as he stands side-by-side with Jado Claus. ELP gets the mic now, and the fans cheer him on. ELP takes a moment before saying, in Japanese, “Cancer. Cancer… I’ve beaten cancer! And I love Korakuen!” But ELP asks Jado-san how to say a certain something in Japanese. He whispers it, but then Narita & Yujiro attack! The fans boo these cowards, but then Narita says Merry Christmas! But ELP BOOTS him, ELBOWS Yujiro, then dodges Narita to SUDDEN DEATH! Jado Claus DECKS the Tokyo Pimp!

ELP again asks Jado, and Jado says on behalf of ELP, that ELP is going to wrestle tomorrow night! And… Then he’ll be at the Tokyo Dome! ELP grabs the NJPW World TV Championship! ELP looks it over, and looks to the crowd, and then to Jado, but then Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa get in the ring. Cobb asks if ELP’s good. ELP is good. Are they good? Then let’s turn it up a notch! FATAL 4 WAY for the TV Championship! Narita snatches his belt, gets out of the ring, and tells everyone to shut up! The odds just got stacked against the House of Torture, will the New Year have a NEW NJPW World TV Champion one way or another?

 

Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!

Ahead of battling for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, The Roughneck and The Front Man bring some back up! The Ace is also preparing to fight Evil, will he and Shota bring a Once in a Century Paradigm Shift? Or will ZSJ and the Japanese Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The teams sort out and Shota starts against ZSJ. The fans cheer this WrestleKingdom preview, and Korakuen duels between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” ZSJ and Shota feel things out, then knuckle lock. ZSJ clinches but Shota fights back with his own clinch. ZSJ slips around to chinbar but Shota wrenches to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls, tries another chinbar but Shota cranks the wristlock. ZSJ bridges, spins, slips around and wrangles Shota! Shota kips up to WRING the arm, but ZSJ UP KICKS! The fans cheer as the two reset. Shota and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ then stands on Shota’s hand!

ZSJ has another hand and twists the wrist! Then he has both arms for a motorcycle stretch but Shota fights up. Shota turns things around, and he fights ZSJ as ZSJ tries to turn them back. ZSJ keeps trying, and he pushes through, but Shota spins things right back around! The fans cheer while Shota digs a foot into ZSJ’s back. ZSJ flips, kips up, spins things around, but Shota spins them back! The fans cheer, and Shota spins ZSJ. ZSJ dodges the lariat, Shota blocks a kick, but ZSJ ducks the enzigiri! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick and arm-drags ZSJ, but ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free, avoids a leg pick, and the fans cheer!

Shota dares ZSJ to go for the leg but the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and each man breaks free of one. They back off, and Shota tags in Tanahashi. The fans cheer, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Korakuen strongly supports President Ace. Tanahashi and Fujita circle, tie up, and Tanahashi powers Fujita back. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off slowly, but then Fujita turns things around! Tanahashi turns things around, and repeat! The ref counts, Fujita lets off slowly, but then both men block a kick! They argue over who lets go first, and eventually agree for a mutual break. They set the feet down, but then Fujita holds on!

Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi, then whips. Tanahashi reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Fujita aims from a corner. Fujita runs corner to corner but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Shota CLOBBERS Fujita, then eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs up, Shota blocks a kick and he sends ZSJ into Tanahashi’s ELBOW! Shota CLOBBERS ZSJ and the fans fire up. Shota pursues ZSJ to the outside and CLUBS him down! Shota clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi CHOPS Fujita, but Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Fujita storms back up, but he blocks a boot!

Fujita DRAGON SCREWS Tanahashi’s leg! Fujita kips up, ZSJ sends Shota into railing, and Fujita stomps Tanahashi. The fans rally and Fujita brings Tanahashi up to CHOP! Fujita eggs Tanahashi on, CHOPS him again, then CHOPS again! Tanahashi flounders and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up to UPPERCUT! Tanahashi ends up in the TMDK corner, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him again! ZSJ says, “Mada mada!” and he UPPERCUTS again! Tanahashi falls, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Fujita brings Tanahashi up. Fujita CHOPS again, and then CHOPS again! Tanahashi is stinging and using the ropes for defense while the fans rally up.

Tanahashi storms up but Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi CHOPS, Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi falls and Fujita BLASTS Shota! Tag to ZSJ and he grabs a leg. Fujita also grabs one, they drag Tanahashi to center, and then they both go after arms. Then they shift, ZSJ has an arm while Fujita has a leg! Then they both have legs again! Then ZSJ has a leg and Fujita has an arm! Then back to the arms! They both isolate the arms for DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands and ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow. ZSJ stands on one of Tanahashi’s legs to then twist the other! Tanahashi endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the ankle!

ZSJ twists the foot the other way, flips Tanahashi over, and shifts around to have a headscissor and armlock! Shota stomps ZSJ but Fujita goes after Shota! Fujita TOSSES Shota, ZSJ tags Fujita back in. Fujita stomps Tanahashi, KICKS him in the back, but Tanahashi gets mad! Fujita KICKS Tanahashi but Tanahashi fires up! Fujita KICKS and CHOPS, but Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm! Fujita CHOPS again! Tanahashi grits his teeth but Fujita CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! SHOTEI! Fujita falls but so does Tanahashi! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Shota! Shota rallies on Fujita with big forearms and elbows!

Shota whips, Fujita reverses, but Shota dropkicks the legs out! ZSJ runs up and RAMS Shota! Then ZSJ runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota goes to Fujita. Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Fujita in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t mind. Shota clinches but Fujita fights the suplex with elbows. Shota runs up, but Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Shota ELBOWS free! Shota whips, Fujita reverses and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita crawls, hot tag to ZSJ!

ZSJ runs up to BOOT Shota! Shota stays up so ZSJ runs to BOOT him again! And BOOT him again! Shota roars and ROCKS ZSJ! Shota runs to ROCK ZSJ again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shota eggs him on, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ roars! ZSJ UPPER- NO, Shota hooks the arm, but ZSJ wrenches out of the backslide to PELE the arm! Then ZSJ basement DROPKICKS Shota! The fans fire up while Shota clutches a leg and an arm. ZSJ kicks him around, scuffs him and taunts him. The fans rally, the ref checks Shota, but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT!

Shota clinches to EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Shota crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Fujita runs up, but Tanahashi blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Payback for earlier! Tanahashi runs up at ZSJ in a corner, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Tanahashi put some stank on that one! Then he goes up the corner for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but the fans continue to rally! “GO ACE! GO ACE!” echoes out as Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ catches him into a COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi endures, then throws elbows into ZSJ’s leg. Tanahashi gets free to DRAGON SCREW again!

ZSJ writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up, but ZSJ kicks at him! Tanahashi blocks a kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And now, TEXAS CLOVER- NO, ZSJ fights the turnover and reels Tanahashi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up, but Shota gets in! Shota stomps away on ZSJ, but then Fujita MISSILE DROPKICKS Shota! Fujita brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi SHOTEIS him down! ZSJ is after Tanahashi but he avoids the shotei! ZSJ SLAPS Tanahashi, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but ZSJ gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as ZSJ stand Tanahashi up.

ZSJ scoops but Tanahashi fights that, to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up but Tanahashi isn’t done! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi stands ZSJ up again, but ZSJ scoops to ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ & Fujita win!

Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall

Shota can’t believe The Ace fell, but this is why ZSJ is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Will ZSJ do this all to Shota when they’re 1v1 in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Shota prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?

 

KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi!

The Dominator has, well, dominated as KOPW Champion for a long stretch of 2024, but the Holy Emperor did close out 2023 with this title. Granted, Taichi says that win, lose or draw, this is his final KOPW Championship match. As such, tonight’s stipulation is a sort of “Best Of” compilation as we go Best 2 Out of 3. Part one: a no ropes Sumo Rules match! Part two: Yoshinobu Kanemaru as special guest referee? Well, he would be a neutral party… And part three, if needed, will be a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Will Taichi “retire” from this truly freestyle division standing tall? Or will Khan truly conquer KOPW for the United Empire?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but Taichi also brings back the trophy for the occasion, and it’s time to end the year in style!

Sumo Rules!

Both men finish preparations with weight belts and some stretching. They square up, the ref says go and they RAM into each other! The fans rally as both men go for those weight belts to use as leverage. They go around, get very close to the ring edge, but then Khan moves things away. Khan THROWS Taichi, but Taichi stays on the ring so the sumo match continues. They reset and go again! Taichi pushes Khan back with both hands, but Khan digs in his heels! They clinch, go around, and Taichi goes for the edge! Khan pulls on Taichi’s leg to get around, but Taichi uses that to steer Khan to another edge! But Khan hits a fireman’s carry takeover!

Khan drags Taichi up but Taichi fights off the throw! They clinch and fight for control again. They each try to lift with the belt! Khan has Taichi near the edge, but then Taichi has Khan near the edge! Khan is teetering and the fans fire up! Taichi THROWS Khan to the floor, Taichi wins the fall!

Khan: 0; Taichi: 1

Special Guest Referee!

The fans are thunderous as Taichi takes the Sumo Rules fall, but now we go to a much more complicated situation. The ropes have to be put back up, sure, but now the Heel Master of all people is going to be the referee! The time it takes to set up the ropes is a reprieve for both sides, especially Khan as he has to catch his breath and refocus. Once the ropes are up, both men wait in the ring. All that is left is the buckle pads, and of course, Kanemaru himself. Kanemaru gets a proper introduction and entrance before he goes to the ring, and wow, he’s even wearing an official NJPW referee shirt with the lion mark on it.

Referee Kanemaru does his check and he even tells Taka Michinoku to watch himself. Kanemaru does a far less thorough check of Khan than Taichi! Did the Empire pay Kanemaru off?! Kanemaru has Taichi cool off, then whispers something to Khan! The bell rings, the fans rally for Khan, and Khan circles with Taichi. They tie up, Taichi powers Khan to ropes, and Kanemaru calls for a ropebreak. Then he has a fast count! Taichi lets off before 4 and argues with Kanemaru! Kanemaru says that’s his count, deal with it. Khan and Taichi reset, tie up, and Khan puts Taichi on ropes. Kanemaru pays more attention to Taka than Taichi!

The fans can’t help but laugh as Kanemaru finally does count, and now it’s really slow! Taichi protests, but Khan pulls Taichi’s arms. Then he CHOPS Taichi and stops at “3!” Khan then goes after Taichi, wrenches and wristlocks, and Kanemaru is asking if Taichi gives up!? Taichi tells him to shut up, but Khan kicks and CLUBS Taichi. Khan whips, Taichi BOOTS Khan down, then covers! Kanemaru strolls over to count! And it’s so slow! “TWO” and the fans cheer. Taichi is upset, but Khan rolls Taichi up! SO FAST!! TWO!! Taichi is getting pissed but Kanemaru backs away. Taichi stomps Khan, and Kanemaru’s untying a buckle pad?!

Taichi stomps Khan around, Khan leaves the pad there loosely, and Taichi whips. Khan reverses, and SURPRISE! bare buckles! Taka protests but Kanemaru SMACKS him with the pad! Khan plays dumb, and then he stands on Taichi’s lower back. Taichi has the ropes, but Kanemaru kicks the arm away! Khan has Taichi’s other arm, Taichi keeps grabbing for ropes but Kanemaru keeps kicking the hand away! Khan drags Taichi up, brings him around, and ROCKS him in the back! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan Mongolian Chops him on the back! And Mongolian Chops again! And Mongolian Chops again! Kanemaru doesn’t bother counting at all!

Taka protests, Kanemaru warns him, but then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while Taichi endures, and only now does Kanemaru count! Khan asks hold on, hold on, so Kanemaru stops counting! Khan hops down, and then he puts Kanemaru up on the throne! Khan gets the fans to join in on the “Ohh…! HMPH!” Kanemaru isn’t into it so he hops down. Khan apologizes to Kanemaru, then he kicks Taichi around. Taichi gets up to fire hands! Khan kicks low, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi stands, and he drags Khan up into SEITEI JUJIHOU!

Kanemaru might be stuck, he can’t ignore Khan tapping. But then Kanemaru drags Khan over to the ropes! Taichi is frustrated with Kanemaru but Kanemaru says that’s a ropebreak. Taichi storms up on Kanemaru, but then Khan waistlocks! Ripcord and SAYANAGI! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan runs in, but Taichi dodges! GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Taichi snarls. Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The pants were a bit stubborn, but still. But then Kanemaru “checks” Khan just to stay between him and Taichi! Taichi says move or else! Kanemaru says he’s the ref!

Kanemaru kicks Taichi, CLAWS Taichi’s eyes, then traps his arms! Khan gets up to IRON RIGHT!! Kanemaru “scolds” Khan, then “checks” Taichi. Khan rests in a corner and Kanemaru drags Taichi up for him. Taichi CHOKES Kanemaru! Kanemaru kicks low! Kanemaru whips Taichi into a corner, ELBOWS him, then Khan LARIATS! Khan snapmares and covers, Kanemaru wants more first! Khan sits Taichi up for a BASEMENT DROPKICK! Now cover, TWO!! Taichi survives so Kanemaru hurries to get his whiskey! Khan takes a swig, and Kanemaru sets Taichi up! WHISKEY MIST into Kanemaru! Taichi hits the GEDO CLUTCH, but Kanemaru really can’t count now!

Taichi lets off of Khan since there was no count to be had. Taichi drags Kanemaru up, but Khan WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOTS Taichi! IRON CLAW!! Kanemaru calls for the bell? He just hands the win to Khan without counting, so now we’re all tied up!

Khan: 1; Taichi: 1

Kanemaru has fulfilled the contract, Khan gives him the envelope of money. Khan even makes sure we all see how many thousands that is! Kanemaru heads out, is he going to party hard for the holidays? But that aside, it is time for the final fall!

Last Man Standing!

Taichi gets the mic first, and tells Khan that if that’s how Khan wants to do it, then Taichi will get down and dirty with Khan! No lumberjacks, no special guests, just the straight up ten count, and it can happen anywhere in Korakuen Hall! Khan says bet! The announcement is made for the official rule change, and now we have the final fall! Khan rushes Taichi on the outside, then whips him into railing! And we’re already going into the crowd! Khan throws Taicihi at English commentary, but big Hartley is a solid wall for Chris. Khan then drags Taichi up into the bleachers, and the fans clear out of the way!

Khan CHOKES Taichi with a chair, then lets off to clear chairs out of the way. The Young Lions try to help but Khan gets mad at them and pushes them aside. Khan drags Taichi up, knees him low, and then reels him in! But Taichi fights the sayanagi! Taichi SHOVES Khan, Khan falls to the floor but gets up, only for Taichi to CROSSBODY! Down goes Khan and Red Shoes hurries over. Both men are down but Taichi sits up. The count starts and Khan is still down at 5 of 10! Khan hurries to get up, and Taichi stomps him down! Taichi drags Khan back up into the bleachers, but we go the other way.

Taicih KICKS Khan down, Young Lions keep the fans back again, and Taichi drags Khan along. They keep moving through the crowd, and Taichi shoves Khan into chairs! Khan sputters but Taichi drags him up again. Taichi KNEES Khan, then drags him up. They go back down to floor level, and then Taichi aims at chairs! Taichi whips but Khan reverses and he BOWLS Taichi into chairs! Not quite a strike but he got a good number of those chairs! Khan pops the railing loose from the special corner piece, and he brings that corner piece over! Khan SMACKS Taichi with the steel! Taichi staggers away but he sits in a chair.

Khan starts folding chairs to stack them on the floor. Khan then uses one chair as a leash to drag Taichi over! Khan CLUBS Taichi, adds that one chair to the pile, and then snap suplexes Taichi onto the chairs! Taichi writhes but Khan rises up. Khan roars and the fans fire up! The count begins again but Taichi slowly sits up at 4. Taichi rises up, and he stands at 8! Khan brings Taichi around in a headlock, and they go to the orange bleachers! Khan uses the gate to smother Taichi, then they go up to the higher level! The fans fire up but then fans have to move! Khan KNEES and CLUBS Taichi, then whips Taichi at the exit door!

Taichi tumbles into the hallway! Khan drags Taichi back into the arena and uses the HITSUJIGOROSHI against the chairs! Taichi endures as Khan chokes him, then Khan lets him go! Red Shoes checks on Taichi, Taka coaches him, but the count begins. Khan sits in a chair to relax while he waits. Taichi sits up at 7, and stands at 9! Khan storms up on Taichi to CLUB him on the back! Khan headlocks Taichi, brings him to the other section, and he gets up close to the fans for photo ops. Khan then whips, but Taichi reverses, and Khan is sent into the wall! Taichi leaves Khan behind while the count begins again.

Khan sits up so Taichi KICKS him back down! Taichi drags Khan up, KICKS him again, and Khan falls to his knees. Taichi drags Khan up by his ponytail, and he goes close to the stairs that lead to the back! Khan fights the suplex, and for his life, but then he turns things around! Taichi fights the suplex, throws hands, and then DDTS Khan to the floor! Red Shoes checks both men, then starts the count. Taichi shakes out his arms and sits up at 4. Taichi stands at 6 but Khan is still down at 8! Khan drags himself up at 9! Taichi CLUBS Khan down, then brings him back up. Taichi brings Khan back to ground level, then snapmares him hard for a KICK!

Khan is in agony but Taichi drags him back up. But Khan RAMS Taichi into the railing! Taichi sputters while also sitting in a chair. Khan staggers away to ringside, and he goes looking under the ring. Khan brings out a trolly cart? Khan JAMS Taichi up using his own mic stand, then leaves him behind. Khan brings out a TABLE! Fans rally up as Khan puts the table on the trolly, then he staggers over to Taichi. Khan CLUBS Taichi down, then SHOVES him onto the table trolly combo. Khan has fans clear out, and then he SNOW PLOWS the chairs with Taichi on the cart!! The fans fire up as Khan stands over Taichi.

Khan drags Taichi up, and he brings the table along, too. Khan kicks chairs out of the way as he returns to the upper deck! Khan SMACKS Taichi off the edge, then he clears out space. Khan sets the table up, then he goes up to fetch Taichi. Khan JAMS Taichi up with a chair, then SMACKS him! Taichi writhes, fans rally, and Khan drags Taichi up. Khan vows to end this! IRON CLAW, and ELIMI- NO! Taichi fights Khan off! Taichi stumbles away through the crowd, but then grabs himself a chair. Taichi runs up to JAM Khan right in the face! Taichi then steals Khan’s idea to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM down through the table!!!

Khan writhes and the fans go nuts! Taichi hobbles around while Red Shoes counts Khan. Khan is still down at 5! Still down at 7! 9! KHAN GRABS RED SHOES’S HAND!! Khan survives, and though he has a couple bloody cuts on his back, he crawls his way to the ring. Taichi eggs Khan on and the fans are thunderous! Khan drags himself into the ring, Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! The fans fire up and the count returns! Khan is still down at 5, stirs at 6, sits up at 7, and he rises at 8! So Taichi just runs up to AX BOMBER!! Khan drops to his knees, flops over, but he’s already pushing himself back up! Taichi runs again, AX BOMBER!!

Khan staggers around but he stays on his feet! Taichi says fine, AX- SAYANAGI!! Khan turns things around, and he AX BOMBERS in return!! Both men are down and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and Khan crawls for ropes at 5! Taichi slowly sits up at 6, and both men go to corners at 7! Red Shoes waits on them to rise up, and then Taichi fires up! Taichi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so Taichi BOOTS! Khan BOOTS back! Taichi URAKENS! Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Taichi SOBATS! Khan BODY BLOWS! Both men drop to knees, but they also grab at each other.

The fans rally as Khan and Taichi slowly rise. They are forehead to forehead, and then Taichi AX BOMBERS! Khan drops to his knees, Taichi BUZZSAWS, but Khan blocks it! Khan ROCKS Taichi with a right! And then Khan reels Taichi in, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK- NO, Khan fights into a GUILLOTINE! Taichi is stuck in the body scissors!! Taichi flails, even taps out, but that’s not how Last Man Standing works! Khan squeezes tighter and tighter, Taichi fades, and Red Shoes checks! Khan lets Taichi go and the count begins! Khan rises at 6, and Taichi is somehow up at 9!! So Khan clamps on an IRON CLAW!

Khan lifts Taichi, but Taichi slips free! Taichi shoves Khan and ROCKS him! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! But Khan is staggering to his feet?! Khan goes to a corner, flounders along ropes, but he isn’t down yet! The fans rally hard while both men fight to their feet! SUPERMAN PUNCH from Khan! PELE from Taichi! Both men are down again! Red Shoes starts the count on them both, and the fans rally even harder! Taichi is up at 7! Khan grabs Red Shoes at 9 again!! Taichi roars, Korakuen is with him, and he powers up! TENSHI JUJI- NO!! Khan blocks, and he hooks Taichi! Taichi CLUBS away on Khan, but Khan still lifts! ULTIMATE ELIMINATOR!!

Both men are down again and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and they’re both down at 5! At 7! 9! Khan pushes up, but he FLOPS back down!! DOUBLE TEN! IT’S A DRAW!! What does that mean for the belt!? Red Shoes goes out to talk with Abe-san, and then the announcement is made. In the end, with it being 1-1-1, a true draw, it all goes to KHAN!

Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (DEFINITIVE 2024 KOPW Champion)

Khan flips Taichi off, one last insult added on top. Khan is given the belt back, but Taichi grabs his trophy. Taichi  steps up to Khan, and gives him the trophy, saying it is rightfully his now. Taichi shows Khan that respect, and Khan returns it with a handshake. Khan “retires” Taichi from KOPW, what will the Holy Emperor look to do in 2025?

As for Khan, he grabs the mic, and he asks Taichi to wait a moment. “You served this title for three years. We will honor your glory!” The fans applaud that, and Khan asks the previous champion to come closer. No, closer. The fans cheer Taichi on as he steps closer to ringside. Khan says Taichi served this title well, so here is his reward. Khan is giving the trophy back? Taichi says no, he gave that to Khan out of respect. Khan says to Taichi and to everyone to listen well. “We are the last KOPW Champion!” Everyone is a bit surprised to hear that.

Khan says, “As an alternative, on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome… as THE last KOPW Champion, We demand that the January 4th match determine the next IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger!” The fans are really intrigued by that idea! Khan throws down the belt, and Chris makes sure English speakers understand what Khan is suggesting. The New Japan Ranbo determining a #1 contender? Khan says that these are the words of the final KOPW Champion, The Great-O-Khan! “HAIL US, PEASANTS!” A New Year, a new era? Will Khan’s revolution bring glory to the United Empire?

My Thoughts:

A very good night for Road to Tokyo Dome, though I did skip a lot just because I didn’t have a lot of time today. But luckily I was skimming through, or I would’ve missed ELP’s great return. Congratulations on him beating cancer, and I like that they’re adding him to the NJPW World Television Championship match. It makes sense given ELP’s beef with the House of Torture, and honestly, why not just have ELP win? Not even so much for getting over cancer (though kind of that, too) but because fans love ELP and it’d help him solidify his singles run with Hikuleo long gone for WWE.

Really good stuff in the other tune-up matches, such as #DespeWado winning and the chaotic end to the Fatal 4 Way. Eagles won to help him and Fujita have momentum, but there is still more to the Road to Tokyo Dome first. Honestly that tag Fatal 4 could really go any which way they want so I’m not sure how the go-home math would even work. And Gedo of course took the loss against LIJ. Yota Tsuji is aiming for David Finlay and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, but who knows how things go before we get to WrestleKingdom.

Very good tag match from Shota & Tanahashi VS ZSJ & Fujita, and it was technically a surprise for Tanahashi to take the loss. This works on many levels, as Tanahashi should be figuratively on the ropes going into his match with Evil, and this gives Fujita equal momentum alongside Eagles. And then great main event, Khan and Taichi really went the distance with this one. And it all makes sense after Khan reveals this is the end of the KOPW Division. Khan wants to make the New Japan Ranbo to basically be the Royal Rumble and that is pretty cool. I think they could keep the belt to represent that contender’s status the same as the G1 Climax having a briefcase, because that KOPW belt actually looks pretty nice.

My Score: 8.8/10

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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!

All Shows On Demand


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

Chairshot Radio Large Chairshot Radio Large
Entertainment4 hours ago

Hockey (and CFP) Talk- The Devil in the Details [122424]

The guys discuss the first round of the expanded CFP and also look at how Jacob Markstrom has anchored the...
Chairshot Radio Large Chairshot Radio Large
Entertainment1 week ago

Hockey Talk- Winter (Classic) Is Coming [121724]

Hockey Talk looks at Alex Ovechkin's recovery and when he might be back. Plus, the Winter Classic fast approaches. Is...
NFL2 weeks ago

Oblong Ball Foot Show: Are Those Chiefs Uprights Regulation Size Or What?!

Jump on board as Andrew and PC run down the entire slate of action for week 15 in the NFL!
Chairshot Radio Large Chairshot Radio Large
Entertainment2 weeks ago

Hockey Talk- Igor Gets Paid! [121024]

Hockey Talk looks at a coaching change in Chicago, the Four Nations Tournament, and Igor Shesterkin laughing all the way...
NFL3 weeks ago

Oblong Ball Foot Show: Famous Jameis

As we head into the last week of byes on the NFL schedule, the gents run down their picks for...
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Entertainment

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Bandwagon Nerds1 day ago

Bandwagon Nerds #268: Seasons Geekings

Your favorite Nerds invite you to the greatest Holiday Party in the Nerdosphere! That plus a review of the first...
HPW Skull Kid News HPW Skull Kid News
Entertainment6 days ago

Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/18/24)

Majora speaks.
Bandwagon Nerds Mario Bandwagon Nerds Mario
Bandwagon Nerds1 week ago

Bandwagon Nerds #267: I’ve Had 16 Holes Already!

The Nerds convene for an extended trip to the Trailer Park and discuss big casting decisions affecting the MCU and...
Entertainment2 weeks ago

Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/12/24)

Dinner is served.
Bandwagon Nerds Mario Bandwagon Nerds Mario
Bandwagon Nerds2 weeks ago

Bandwagon Nerds #266: Silver Age Supermen

The Nerds conclude their review of Game 7, plus the latest trailers and the official launch of the new DCU!
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Sports Entertainment

Coverage16 hours ago

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/23/24)

The Raw Before Christmas!
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome
Coverage1 day ago

Mitchell’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome Results & Report! (12/22/24)

Empire VS Emperor!
Podcasts2 days ago

#TheOddity 023: Just Use A Baby Sock

Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
AEW Coverage3 days ago

Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (12/21/24)

Merry Collision!
Podcasts3 days ago

Mindless Wrestling Podcast: The Saturday Night Wrasslin Show!

With Saturday Night's Main Event in our rear view mirror, we talk about the MAIN event.
AEW Coverage4 days ago

Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (12/20/24)

Brody King is on a Rampage!
Coverage4 days ago

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (12/20/24)

Who's dreaming of a gold Christmas?
Coverage4 days ago

Mitchell’s ROH Final Battle Results & Report! (12/20/24)

Is this the end of the Forever Reign?
Podcasts4 days ago

DWI Podcast Classic: Scrooge McBitch

As the snow falls, enjoy this holiday classic from 4 years ago!
Coverage5 days ago

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (12/19/24)

One last stop before Final Battle!
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