Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Backlash Report! (5/6/18)
WWE shifts gears after the Superstar Shake-Up with a co-branded Backlash! Will The Big Dog, Roman Reigns, keep Samoa Joe from putting him to sleep? Can Daniel Bryan stand up to the 7 foot tall bully, Big Cass? Will No Disqualifications for the WWE Championship help or hinder AJ Styles against Shinsuke Nakamura?
All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff Match: Bayley VS Ruby Riott w/ The Riott Squad; Ruby wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Seth Rollins VS The Miz; Rollins wins and retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
- Raw Women’s Championship: Nia Jax VS Alexa Bliss; Nia wins and retains the Raw Women’s Championship.
- WWE United States Championship: Jeff Hardy VS Randy Orton; Hardy wins and retains the WWE United States Championship.
- Daniel Bryan VS Big Cass; Bryan wins.
- SmackDown Women’s Championship: Carmella VS Charlotte Flair; wins and
- WWE Championship No Disqualification Match: AJ Styles VS Shinsuke Nakamura; Double Count Out, Styles retains the WWE Championship.
- Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley VS Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn; Strowman & Lashley win.
- Roman Reigns VS Samoa Joe; Roman wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Miztourage go through a list of possible new bosses.
Baron Corbin? No, Bo has heard he’s a Lone Wolf. But what abuot Jinder Mahal? He needs two men, right? Just then, The Miz walks in.
“Daddy’s home.” And he is so proud of his “sons”. The mind games they were playing were great. Miz remembers when he knew they were destined to be the Miztourage. That was when they made Marine 5, and Bo & Axel got back at the stage hands for taking the last two seats. The good times these there have shared. Which is why Miz is so happy that they’re all back together to do it again to Seth Rollins! They should get going, their match is first on the main card. But Bo says no? They’re not supporting cast anymore. The duo formerly known as the Miztourage leaves, who will they find to be their new leading man?
The IIconics join the kickoff panel.
Peyton Royce & Billie Kay don’t want anymore chit chat about the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Charlotte Flair is “so 2000-NEVER.” Billie reminds everyone that they beat Asuka in her first SmackDown match. Yes, they beat Asuka on her first SmackDown match. “We’re better than Asuka!” Renee Young asks for any insight on tonight’s match. The IIconics ignore that. Where have they met Peter Rosenberg? Or no, heard him. Peyton imitates Peter, that’s spot on! But Peyton and Billie admit they’re interested in tonight’s match. Carmella is “maj”, but Peter is “repug”. Backlash maybe could, possible become #IIconic. They sing their theme song while prancing their way out.
Bayley and Sasha Banks talk backstage.
The Hugger invited The Boss to discuss The Riott Squad. Bayley doesn’t want to fight with her anymore. Sasha can be in her corner for her match. Oh now Bayley wants Sasha around? What happened when Sasha needed Bayley? Is Bayley afraid things will happen to her? Bayley can’t believe how full Sasha is of herself. Bayley can handle Ruby Riott like she handled Sasha. She was trying to help Sasha, but if Sasha is too stubborn, then that’s her problem. Sasha says Bayley can spin it however she wants, she’s still on her own. Will these two ever be back to being friends?
Both Raw and SmackDown GMs are in the Social Media Lounge.
Kurt Angle and Paige are both here for WWE’s first co-branded event since the Superstar Shake-Up to answer the questions fans submitted under #AskTheGMs. The Gold Medalist and Glampire are excited for this crossover night.
“Angle, who is your dream opponent in today’s generation?” There’s a lot of great choices from both shows, but Angle would love Daniel Bryan in a match. It could still happen. “Two questions: What is the hardest part about being a GM? And what was Paige’s reaction to Absolution coming to SmackDown?” Paige is a new GM, but the hard part is not helping your friends. Absolution has to earn what they get, and will get a title shot when they deserve it. Angle agrees, it’s about equal opportunity within the time they have.
“For both GMs: which match will steal the show?” Paige says Styles VS Nakamura with No Disqualifications, but also the SmackDown Women’s Championship because she adores and respects Charlotte. Angle says the Raw Women’s Championship, as well as the grudge match of Roman Reigns VS Samoa Joe.
Bayley VS Ruby Riott w/ The Riott Squad!
The Huggable One couldn’t convince her on-again-off-again friend to be in her corner, but The Squad is always behind their leader. Can Bayley get even all by herself? Or will Ruby #StartaRiott?
The bell rings and Ruby circles with Bayley. They tie up, and Bayley gets the arm wrench. Ruby stomps on Bayley’s foot then reverses the hold, but Bayley reverses it back. Bayley brings Ruby down with a headlock takeover, but Ruby stands up to throw Bayley down by her headband. Ruby puts on a headlock, but Bayley powers out, only for Ruby to run her over. Ruby says Bayley is weak, like Sasha. She then runs, but Bayley evades and O’Conner roll, TWO. Ghost pin, TWO, School Girl, TWO. Bayley whips but Ruby reverses, only to run into Bayley’s elbow. Bayley flies with an arm-drag to cover, TWO. Ruby rocks Bayley with a right! Ruby drags Bayley up and puts her in a corner with a buckle bump. Bayley staggers away, but Ruby brings her back for another.
Ruby stalks Bayley while Sasha watches backstage. Bayley reverses the whip and hits the corner clothesline, to then whip Ruby corner to corner. Bayley runs in but Ruby hangs her up on the top rope. But that doesn’t stop Bayley, she bumps Ruby off buckles. The Squad distracts Bayley, Ruby hits the STO! Bayley rolls out of the ring and the Squad taunt her while we go to break.
WWE Backlash returns with Bayley fighting out of a chinlock. She gives elbows to Ruby, and breaks free, only to run into a Complete Shot! Ruby drags Bayley up for vicious elbows and knees. Now she covers, TWO, and Ruby grows frustrated. Ruby grabs Bayley in a new chinlock, and digs her knee into Bayley’s back. Fans rally for Bayley while she endures. Bayley fights her way up again, and throws more elbows. Ruby bumps Bayley off buckles again, the referee reprimands Ruby. Ruby drags Bayley up and bumps her off another buckle, then stalks Bayley along the ropes. She chokes Bayley against the ropes while The Squad taunts her. Ruby lets go, Sarah Logan gets a cheapshot! Cover, TWO, and Sasha is still watching backstage.
Ruby bumps Bayley off more buckles, but then Bayley fights back. Bayley gives Ruby Snake Eyes, then goes up and over, only to get caught in Deadly Nightshade!
The Squad cheers while Ruby covers, TWO. Ruby is furious, but she calms down and works on her next move. She toys with Bayley, but Bayley hits back. Ruby grabs her in a cravat to wrench the neck. Bayley keeps fighting, and arm-drags Ruby off. Ruby runs in but Bayley dodges. Bayley gives a back elbow, then tries boots, but Ruby spins her to the apron. Bayley rocks Ruby with a right, then hops in for a crossbody! Cover, TWO! Both women are reeling, but standing. Bayley starts rallying with clotheslines. She saido suplexes Ruby down! Ruby rolls to ropes but Bayley is on her. Ruby holds on to deny the whip, then reverses the whip, but Bayley dodges to dropkick at Sarah. Sarah catches her, but Bayley counters that into a headscissor!
Bayley staggers but Ruby goes after her hair. Bayley hits Ruby with the hotshot! Ruby goes down, Bayley climbs up, for the Macho Elbow! Cover, TWO! Both women are down, but the fans are liking this. Bayley stirs, then crawls to a corner. Ruby stirs while Bayley drags herself up. Bayley checks the pony tail, then waits for Ruby to get up. Liv gest on the apron, Bayley goes to throw Ruby inot her but Ruby throws Bayley into Liv! Ruby then boots Bayley, and hits the Riott Kick!
Cover, Ruby wins!
Winner: Ruby, by pinfall
The Squad helps their leader out again thanks to numbers. The riotous and reckless trio gets away with a win, can anyone beat their number games?
Backlash means many things, but tonight, it means change.
Rivalries renewed with rematches all around. A new take on David and Goliath. Legacies defined by wins and losses. And a vendetta to be settled in a match with no rules. Both Raw and SmackDown bring #TheBestofBothWorlds, but who will feel the backlash?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Seth Rollins VS The Miz!
The Hollywood A-Lister lost his most prized possession in the prestigious IC title when The Architect overcame him and Finn Balor at Wrestlemania. The same happened when The Architect jumped ahead of Finn at The Greatest Royal Rumble. Can Miz use his 1v1 contractual rematch to get back the title and return to making history?
The bell rings and Rollins gets the bigger ovation from the fans. And Rollins rubs it in a bit on Miz. The two circle and tie up, Rollins shifts through holds and settles on the hammerlock. Miz tries but can’t reverse, and Rollins brings him to the mat. Miz rolls but Rollins wrangles him down, so Miz grabs the ropes. Rollins honors the break, then smirks as he and Miz circle again. They approach but Miz kicks low and stomps away on Rollins. Fans boo and jeer while Miz keeps going. Miz backs off at the referee’s count, then comes back to bump Rollins off buckles. Miz pulls on Rollins’ hair then whips Rollins. Rollins reverses and dropkicks Miz down. Rollins chops Miz to a corner, then chops more. He follows Miz then whips him corner to corner.
Fans fire up as Rollins runs in for the forearm smash. Rollins whips Miz again, then runs in but Miz puts him on the apron. Rollins punches Miz away but Miz boots Rollins down! Miz checks his jaw while Rollins crashes and burns. Miz goes out to fetch Rollins, he needs to finish this in the ring. But he bounces Rollins off the announce desk first. Then Miz rams Rollins into the apron edge before putting him in the ring. Miz mocks the “Burn It Down” stomps before hitting a low boot. Cover, TWO, Miz puts on a chinlock. Fans rally while Rollins endures. Rollins fights his way up and fights out of the hold. Rollins chops Miz again, then whips, but Miz reverses to hit Rollins with the kitchen sink knee.
Miz rams knees into Rollins’ back, then throws in an elbow to add onto the chinlock. Fans keep it up for Rollins, and Rollins gets up again. Miz knees low then whips, but Rollins turns the knee into a roll up, TWO. Muel kick deflected, Miz hits the low DDT! COver, TWO! Miz grows frustrated but keeps it together. He stomps Rollins down, but he hears the fans supporting Rollins. Miz puts Rollins on the ropes to choke him, then backs off to hit the running rope attack! Miz embraces the heat and declares he’s the better champ. Rollins fights back with haymakers and chops, then whips, but Miz reverses, only for Rollins to hit a facebuster!
Both men are down but Rollins brings himself to a corner. Fans rally while he aims at Miz. Miz runs in but into the buckle shot. Rollins then stands up again, Miz following. Rollins boots him away, then hops up and over to run and Slingblade! Miz flounders, Rollins runs and clotheslines Miz out! Fans fire up with Rollins, Rollins builds speed, then DIVES!
Down goes Miz! Rollins brings Miz up and into the ring, then takes aim from the apron. Springboard but Miz catches Rollins! Miz wants the Finale but Rollins rolls through to a cover, TWO! Miz runs into another boot, Rollins hops up and hits a blockbuster. Cover, TWO, but Rollins keeps his cool. Fans rally as he stalks Miz. Rollisn grabs Miz but Miz grabs ropes, for a cheap shot elbow. Miz trips up Rollins but Rollins kicks him away. Miz puts Rollins on the apron but Rollins hits back, then hits a springboard flying clothesline! Rollins runs but is put back on the apron, Miz slips under to trip Rollins up! Rollins hits the apron then the floor, but Miz needs to catch his breath.
Miz puts Rollins back in at the count of 3, then decides to climb up top himself. Miz flies in, but is caught, roll through to a swinging side slam! Cover, TWO! But Rollins won’t let that slow him down, he hurries back up to climb to the top rope. Rollins takes aim at Miz from far away, and leaps for a frog splash!
TWO!! And Rollins is too tired to be shocked. The fans declare “This is Awesome!” while Rollins stands up. Rollins stomps, “Burn It Down!” Rollins takes aim, Miz stirs, but then realizes he needs to get away. Miz escapes to the outside, but Rollins pursues. They go back in the ring, Rollins dodges to clothesline Miz back out. Rollins builds speed again, to run into a clobbering left hand! Miz catches his breath while Rollins slumps out of the ring. They both stand up on the apron, Miz’s DDT denied, but he boots Rollins back. Rollins forearms back, then chops, then another forearm. Rollins rocks Miz, then wring him out, but that Revolution Knee goes into a post! Miz goes after the leg with the Figure Four!
Rollins endures, flails, reaches but Miz just elevates himself more. Rollins drags himself around towards ropes, but Miz drags him back the other way. Miz wants Rollins to tap, but Rollins refuses. Rollins glares at Miz and it scares Miz! Rollins rolls it over and reverses the pressure! Now Miz feels the pain, enduring but reaching. Miz wills himself not to give up, and roll it back on Rollins! But now they’re closer to ropes, Rollins gets the ropebreak. Miz lets go reluctantly, but the damage has been done to each man’s legs. Miz slowly stands, then hobbles over to Rollins. He wants it again, but Rollins pushes Miz away.
Rollins chops Miz, so Miz punches back. Rollins punches back, so Miz hits back. They go again and again, Miz kicks out the leg, then full nelson, but Rollins arm-drags him away. Rollins rocks Miz with a roaring elbow, but Miz boots right back. Pele from Rollins! Miz is dizzy, but he still goes for the full nelson. Rollins rolls but Miz wheelbarrow lifts him back up! Skull Crushing Finale!
Cover, TWO!? No one can believe Rollins survived! Rollins manages to get to a corner, but that leg won’t let him stand. Miz runs in, and hits the A-List lariat in the corner. Miz then climbs up, his own legs slowing him down. He takes aim at Rollins, but Rollins springs up to stop him! Rollins climbs up, even with that bad leg. Rollins wants the superplex, but Miz resists. Miz hits back, then kicks out the bad leg. Rollins goes down, Miz stands up but Rollins returns to hit the SUPERPLEX! Rollins rolls it through, but the bad leg! Miz slips out for another Finale!! TWO!?!? How?! Miz is losing his mind from frustration. Both men are down but “This is Awesome!”
Miz sits up while fans rally. Miz drags Rollins up and into a corner, then up onto the top rope. He climbs up now, positioning himself for the full nelson. Rollins elbows and forearms his way out, then leaps for the Curb Stomp! Miz evades, then O’Conner rolls! TWO, to Rollins’, TWO, Miz but the CURB STOMP! Rollins crawls and covers, Rollisn wins!
Winner: Rollins, by pinfall; still WWE Intercontinental Champion
The Architect retains, and it took another superhuman effort to do it. What will it take to take that title from Mr. #MondayNightRollins?
Raw Women’s Championship: Nia Jax VS Alexa Bliss!
The Goddess manipulated the Irresistible Force the entire time they were “friends”, but was exposed by a hot mic. At the same time, Nia won’t let Alexa get away with spinning stories to make it seem as if Alexa was the victim all along. Who will win more than just the title in this Wrestlemania Rematch?
The bell rings, and Alexa dropkicks a leg out! She then hops on for a sleeper, but Nia slings her off. Nia swings but Alexa dodges to kick away at the leg. Alexa hops up again then rakes the eyes. Nia grabs Alexa’s hair, and blocks the slap, to make Alexa pay with a torturous wristlock. Nia headbutts Alexa, then flattens her in a corner before tossing her across the way, for another corner splash and toss. Alexa escapes outside of the ring but the champ waits for her. Alexa gets on the apron, but Nia is upon her, only to get her legs kicked out. Nia holds on to Alexa’s hair, so Alexa kicks her in the face. Alexa runs in to rock Nia with a right, then covers, ONE.
Alexa grows frustrated, and she goes after Nia with a choke on the ropes. She backs off at the count of 3, then stomps right on Nia with the skateboard stomps. Alexa taunts Nia while bumping the “bully” off the apron. She slaps Nia, then reenters the ring. Alexa gives knees, then runs, for another slap! “Bullies never win, Nia.” Alexa wants her DDT but Nia powers out! Alexa gets out of the fireman’s carry, then gets run over! Nia runs, but misses the rolling senton. Both women slowly stand, and Alexa goes after the legs before giving another right hand. Alexa bounces Nia’s face off the mat, then throws elbows and knees. She keeps Nia reeling, then runs, but Nia catches her!
Nia carries Alexa in the fireman’s carry and climbs up the corner. This is like Wrestlemania, but Alexa knows htat. Alexa uses the ropes to help her escape, but the referee reprimands her for the hanging sleeper. Alexa lets go, then leaps, but Nia powers her up. Nia gets caught in a guillotine, but then rams Alexa into buckles. Alexa holds on but Nia sits her back up top. Alexa and Nia scrap, then Nia throws Alexa to the mat! Nia stands over Alexa, but ALexa kicks her back. Nia brings Alexa up to clobber her, then powers her into the corner again. She throws ALexa down and around, then flattens her again before another toss. Nia drags Alexa aruond like a rag doll! Nia positions Alexa, then climbs up with fans firing up. She prepares the Vader Bomb, but Alexa dumps her down!
Nia crashes and burns while Alexa catches her breath in the ring. However, Champion’s Advantage means Alexa has to win this in the ring. Nia stirs and Alexa goes out to fetch her. Alexa takes the time to bring Nia to steps, for a DDT! Alexa has to drag Nia into the ring, but she’s nowhere near strong enough for that. She sits Nia up, but Alexa has to refresh the count before she runs out of time. She tries again, and gets Nia up a bit more. Nia crawls into the ring herself, Alexa covers, TWO. Alexa throws a tantrum, but goes after Nia with more forearms. She runs, but into Nia’s arms!
Nia hurries back up a corner, but Alexa slips out. Alexa tries the powerbomb, but Nia holds onto the ropes. Nia punches Alexa away, but Alexa kicks out a leg! Nia falls down, Alexa covers, TWO! Alexa is running out of ideas, but she’s still furious as ever. She runs and dropkicks Nia into buckles face first! Alexa then climbs up top, and jumps for Twisted Bliss, but Nia catches her! And Nia pops Alexa up, Samoan Drop! Cover, Nia wins!
Winner: Nia, by pinfall; still Raw Women’s Champion
Alexa was right, bullies don’t win. Nia overcomes Alexa again, and now has an in-ring interview with Renee Young.
Congratulations are in order. What does this mean to her? “It means everything.” Alexa’s Moment of Bliss is over, and Nia dedicates this victory to those who have always felt less than. This is for the victims of bullies! “You’re not alone.” Who wants to be ordinary? Be extraordinary! No one should change for anyone, “this IS me!” Be who you are, Be A Star, and in the end, “a bully always gets their ass kicked.” Fans agree with every word. Now that Nia has gotten past her bully, who will be the next woman to step up to the champion?
Backstage interview with Samoa Joe.
The Destroyer says Roman Reigns is more than “rattled.” Roman is losing his confidence, speed, power, but tonight, he loses to Joe. Joe wants Roman to feel pain. Joe wants Roman to close his eyes and see Joe’s face. Most importantly, Joe vows that tonight, The Big Dog turns into a whimpering puppy!
WWE United States Championship: Jeff Hardy VS Randy Orton!
The Viper was United States Champion, but won back the right to challenge whoever was champion for the title. Fortunately for him, the Superstar Shake-Up didn’t rob him of that right. Can the Charismatic Enigma hold on to the title he took from Jinder Mahal when faced with a Grand Slam Champion like Orton?
The bell rings and after ten years, these two finally match up again. Fans already rally as they circle and tie up. Hardy gets a headlock but Orton pulls hair to power out. Hardy runs Orton over with a shoulder but Orton springs right back up. They both back to a corner while checking those shoulders. Hardy gets a waistlock but Orton elbows out. Orton puts on a headlock, but Hardy powers out, only for Orton to run him over. Cover, TWO, but Orton grabs Hardy’s hair. They stand up, Hardy jawbreakers back. Hardy runs, and dropkicks Orton out, to then swing for a wrecking ball dropkick. Hardy keeps going, and takes Orton down with a flying clothesline. Fans cheer as Hardy brings Orton up and into the ring. Orton stands up and dropkicks Hardy back! Cover, TWO, and Orton brings Hardy up.
Hardy goes for but Orton denies the Twist with a shove. Hardy elbows Orton away, then climbs, but Orton shoves him onto the post. Orton catches his breath while Hardy is doubled over. Hardy falls backward into a Tree of Woe, and Orton stomps a mudhole into him. Orton grinds a boot into Hardy, then backs off. The referee helps Hardy out of the Tree, but Orton is right back on him with hands. Orton drags Hardy up again, then rocks him with a European Uppercut. Orton gives another and Hardy drops all the way out of the ring. The referee has Orton stay back, but Orton just slithers out the other side. Hardy flies out of nowhere, steel steps help for Poetry in Motion! Orton crashes against the barriers while Hardy crashes on the floor.
Hardy stands up first and gives back stomps and hammering hands. Hardy takes off his shirt, then drags Orton over to bounce him off steel steps. They go back in the ring, but Orton dropkicks Hardy mid-slingshot! Hardy drops down to the ground, then Orton exits the ring to fetch him. Orton bounces Hardy off the steel steps in return, then back suplexes him on the barriers. And then a second time! And a third! Orton is ruthless as he puts Hardy in the ring. Cover, TWO, but Orton keeps his focus. Orton stomps away on Hardy’s joins just as he does. He drags Hardy up, then hangs him up on the top rope. Orton covers again, TWO, but he still keeps his cool. He sits Hardy up for a chinlock, but fans rally for Hardy.
Hardy fights to get up but Orton keeps squeezing tighter. He brings Hardy into a body scissors for even more squeezing. Hardy endures and fans rally again. Hardy fights his way up but Orton keeps him grounded. Orton sits Hardy up for the chinlock, but Hardy gets a second wind with the fans’ chants. Hardy stands and fights, whips, and clobbers Orton with a clothesline. Atomic drop to leg-splitting leg drop! Dropkick added, cover, TWO. Orton and Hardy slowly stand up and get to opposite corners. Hardy runs in but Orton dodges. Hardy climbs up, for Whisper in the Wind!
Orton goes down, Hardy covers, TWO. Hardy isn’t done, he kicks and goes for the Twist, but Orton reverses! No RKO, but Orton hist the powerslam! Cover, TWO! The Viper is calm as he stalks Hardy to the apron. He drags Hardy up, then drags Hardy through the ropes, but Hardy slips out and kicks Orton away. Hardy hobbles over and swings, but misses the Hardiac! Orton tries again as he puts Hardy back on the apron. He drags Hardy back up and in through the ropes, and hits the draping DDT. Fans know where this is headed. Orton hears them and the voices in his head. Orton wants Hardy to stand, but Hardy rolls him up! TWO, Twist of Fate! Hardy hurries up top, SWANTON BOMB!
Hardy wins!
Winner: Hardy, by pinfall; still WWE United States Champion
The Enigma is #ImmunetoFear, and was able to avoid being bitten by the Viper. Now that Hardy has made it through one of the best in SmackDown and all of the WWE, who will he move on to next?
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Elias.”
The Drifter has made it to New Jersey, and New Jersey is happy to see him. As always, he plays his guitar and asks, “Who Wants to Walk with Elias?!” Elias is good friends with Springsteen, they party and talk about music, life. He gives Springsteen advice, making Elias the real Boss. The only regret Bruce has is being from New Jersey. And Elias gets it, “this place is toilet!” Elias texted Springsteen to get him to watch this new song. So please, silence cell phones, hold applause–nope, they give some, so Elias threatens to NOT perform. Fans chant “Yes! Yes!” In that case, he’s going to leave. On second thought… No, he’s leaving. No, he’s staying. Leaving? Staying? “Yay! Boo!” No, Bruce needs to– Awwwwwww Newark~! Feel~ the powah of The New Day!
The New Day bring positivity, instruments, and of course, pancakes! Raw’s Elias is not happy being interrupted by SmackDown’s Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods. The New Day actually like Elias’ work. Elias thanks them, but he knows they’re a bit intimidated. They want autographs or what? No, not that. They want to know if he’d jam with yo boys, NEW~ DAY~. Yes, a one-time-only, co-branded Backlash Concert babyyyy~! They want to play with Elias? No, they want to WALK with Elias! Sorry but Elias is a solo act. That’s fine, they do love solos. They play their drum, trombone and cymbals. Elias has them cut the music. Kofi, stop! He can tell they have something, they might one day open for him. Just not tonight. Play somewhere else, and let’s start this over.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Elias.”
But wait, is that…?
Yes, it’s MC Artiste, Aiden English! And fans know what that means: “Rusev Day! Rusev Day!” English knows New Day should just stick to flapjacks while Elias’ guitar is great, but do you know what day it is today? Rusev Daaaaaaaay~!
Elias is growing further upset. “What the Hell are you two doing here?” Fans chant “Rusev Day! Rusev Day!” while Rusev and English head down the ramp. They’re doing whatever they want. Because there’s one man who celebrates his own holiday every day. It’s not Bootleg Bob Dylan nor the Booty Boys. Bootleg? Bob Dylan wishes he was a bootleg Elias. This isn’t abuot Rusev Day or New Day, this is about Elias’ night.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Elias.”
No Way Jose!
And he’s got Titus Worldwide with him! Elias is getting a migraine just looking at the conga line. Wait, the Fashion Police bring up the rear!
That migraine just got worse. Jose leads the line all the way around the ring and towards the announce desks. Elias demands the fiesta stop! Cut the music! No more dancing! Elias doesn’t want a collection of freaks. No more Rusev Day, no more New Day, and no more interruptions!
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Elias.”
GLORIOUS ROODE! GLORIOUS DDT!!
Bobby Roode drops the party-pooping Elias and everyone celebrates. Because now the party is GLORIOUS! Roode signals to Jose, and the Fighting Fiesta leads the way back out. Elias didn’t have his moment, but Roode does join in on the conga line twerking. Rusev has to keep English serious or else he’d be lost to the infectious fiesta. Did we mention it’s GLORIOUS?
Daniel Bryan VS Big Cass!
Both the Goat and the Human Skyscraper were medically cleared on the same day almost two months ago. However, the 7 Foot Tall powerhouse hated being overshadowed by the much smaller superstar. Can Bryan show Cass it isn’t about size but skill in the ring?
The bell rings and Cass glares at Bryan. Bryan glares back, and the fans are on Bryan’s side. This only upsets Cass more. He lunges at Bryan but Bryan evades and kicks the leg. Bryan evades again and kicks at that leg more. Cass walks it off then corners Bryan, but Bryan slips past and fires off body shots and kicks. Bryan goes after that leg, the leg that Cass injured, but Cass clubs Bryan off of him. Cass rocks Bryan with a right hand, but fans taunt Cass with “We Want Enzo!” Cass keeps on Bryan with body shots, then whips but Bryan dumps Cass out. Bryan runs and blasts Cass with a wrecking ball dropkick. Then from the apron, a flying knee! Cass staggers around from that impact, and Bryan climbs up top, for a missile dropkick. Bryan kips up and fires up, as does New Jersey.
Bryan goes after Cass with the YES Kicks! “YES! YES!” He winds up, but Cass powers up and choke slams Bryan! Fans boo and jeer while Cass embraces the heat. Cass walks around, hand in the air, while Bryan recovers. Cass chops Bryan with an overhand then clubs him on the back. He stands Bryan up again for another, and Bryan doubles over from that massive palm’s impact. Cass drags Bryan up once again, for a third overhand chop. Bryan doesn’t stay down, he hits back with a body shot. Cass clubs him again, then scoops him up for the slam. Cass runs, for a big elbow drop. Cover, TWO. Big Cass keeps his cool while driving in fists to Bryan’s head. He stands up again to pose, then lifts Bryan up for the over-the-shoulder backbreaker rack.
Bryan endures, and pries his way out of the hold. Cass runs in, but a drop toehold sends him face first into buckles. Bryan YES kicks away in the corner, then runs for the dropkick! He keeps going, for a second! But then runs into the flapjack toss! Cass stalks Bryan and clobbers him with a clothesline. Cover, TWO, and now Cass grows frustrated. Cass steps on Bryan, then drags him up. He reels Bryan in for another clothesline, but holds on to the wrist to bring him up again. Fans boo and jeer but Cass embraces it all as he clobbers Bryan again. Cass mocks the fans and their disdain, then clobbers Bryan with yet another clothesline.
Bryan flounders while Cass takes aim from across the way. Cass runs, but Bryan ducks to roundhouse Cass in the head! Bryan brings Cass down by his arm, and traps one arm. He wants the other, but Cass resists, so Bryan gives crossface punch after punch to beat the bigger man down. Then Bryan sinks in the YES Lock!
Cass taps, Bryan wins!
Winner: Bryan, by submission
Size didn’t matter, but skill and grit did. Bryan wins his first PPV 1v1 match since his return, and it’s like he never missed a day. Can Bryan bring the second coming of his #YESMovement? But Cass attacks Bryan while he celebrates!!
Cass is a sore loser as he knocks Bryan down off the top rope. He goes out and throws Bryan across the floor, then back the other way! The referee tries to stop Cass and the fans taunt Cass with “You Tapped Out!” Cass can’t handle the truth, but he does manhandle Bryan back into the ring. He takse aim at Bryan again, for the BIG BOOT!
Cass stands over Bryan, proud of what he’s done. Cass still lost the match, but will Bryan lose much more?
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Carmella VS Charlotte Flair!
The FABULOUS Princess was the inaugural Ms. Money in the Bank, and held onto her contract longer than any of the Mr. MITB’s in history. But it was well worth it, as the IIconics would beat up The Queen 2v1, giving Carmella the perfect moment to cash-in. #MellaisMoney but will she stay champion now that Charlotte has her all to herself?
The bell rings and the two circle. Charlotte lets out a “WOO~!”, so Carmella copies and parodies it. Charlotte boots her down! Then shows Carmella how it’s done. Charlotte invites Carmella back into the ring, then backs off. Carmella stands up, and decides to take her title and quit? Champion’s Advantage, but Charlotte isn’t letting Carmella leave so easily. Carmella keeps saying she’s the champ, but now she’s prey! Charlotte runs her down and throws her down by her hair. Then she puts Carmella in the ring, covers, TWO. Carmella tries to escape again but Charlotte kicks her and rolls her with an inside cradle, TWO. Charlotte rolls Carmella up with the special bridge, ONE.
Carmella scrambles, but grabs the apron skirt as Charlotte drags her back in. The referee is busy with the skirt while Charlotte goes for the Figure Four. Carmella shoves her away, then stands up, only to get run over by a clothesline. Carmella rolls out of the ring, but Charlotte heads her way. Charlotte slingshots, but Carmella dodges and hits a FABULOUS Kick! She takes Charlotte down, then acts like that was the plan all along. She puts Charlotte back in the ring, covers, TWO. Carmella hammers away on Charlotte, then covers, TWO. Carmella drives in elbows then puts Charlotte in a chinlock, saying “I’m the champion!” She mocks the WOO then thrashes Charlotte around.
Charlotte endures, even with Carmella shouting in her ear. Carmella is willing to wait as long as it takes for Charlotte to quit. Charlotte reaches while fans build to a rally, and Charlotte gets her second wind. She throws Carmella off but another FABULOUS Kick! Cover, TWO, so it’s back to the chinlock. Carmella says she has all day to do this. Charlotte endures the squeeze again while fans “WOO~” in support. Charlotte powers up again, for a backpack stunner! Then a scoop, but Carmella slips back to bring Charlotte down by her hair. Carmella hammers away, then grinds Charlotte’s face into the mat.
Carmella pulls on Charlotte’s arms while pushing her face into the mat more. She wants Charlotte to give up, but Charlotte refuses. Charlotte sits up, but Carmella keeps pulling on the arms. Charlotte grows angry and she stands up to dropkick Carmella away. Both women slowly stand up, Charlotte hits Carmella with the backbreaker and STO. Charlotte chops and chops away on Carmella, the last chop dropping Carmella. Charlotte styles and profiles to hit a saido suplex! Carmella gets to the apron but Charlotte kips up to rock her with a knee, then a knee drop. Charlotte joins her on the apron, but Carmella deflects the boot to yank Charlotte down by her hair again. Carmella pushes Charlotte back into the ring to then drag her over to a corner. She uses the post to bend Charlotte back Bow ‘n’ Arrow style.
Carmella lets go at the count of 4, then clubs away on Charlotte. She reenters the ring and slaps Charlotte over and over while bringing up that she’s the champ. Carmella stomps Charlotte, then moonwalks back. However, Charlotte stands up and SPEARS Carmella down! Charlotte grins as she grabs the legs. She wants the Figure Four but Carmella shoves her away again. Charlotte holds on, jackknife cover, TWO, into the Code of Silence!
Carmella bends Charlotte back, but fans rally for Charlotte. Charlotte powers her way up and lifts Carmella, into piledriver position, but Carmella rolls through! TWO, boot from Charlotte! Cover, TWO! Charlotte can’t quite believe it, but she goes back for the Figure Four. Carmella shoves her away again, but Charlotte uses that to climb right up to the top. Carmella tries to trip her up, but Charlotte shoves her away now. Charlotte adjusts, MOONSAULT, but Carmella gets out of the way. Charlotte’s leg buckles, Carmella FABULOUS Kicks that leg out! Cover, Carmella wins!?
Winner: Carmella, by pinfall
The Princess of Staten Island wins by the skin of her teeth, but it’s still a win. Now that the Queen has no right to her throne, who will Carmella be challenged by next?
WWE Championship No Disqualification Match: AJ Styles VS Shinsuke Nakamura!
The Phenomenal One thought the King of Strong Style respected him. Styles thought Nakamura would accept defeat with class. Styles thought he knew Nakamura. But he thought wrong. And now, the Con Artist has become a tormentor for Styles in all of their encounters. With the rules thrown out the window, can Styles make Nakamura respect him again? Or will Nakamura just use this to his advantage and finally take that title for his own?
Things get chippy even before the proper introductions, and that only makes them both more eager to fight. The moment the bell rings, Nakamura slips out of the ring. The Rockstar is playing with Styles, but Styles isn’t going to let him. Styles chases Nakamura back into the ring, where he dares Styles to “C’MON!” Styles does but he fakes Nakamura out to throw him into a barrier. He puts Nakamura into more barriers, then even more barriers. Styles drags Nakamura up and throws him into the German announce desk! Styles doesn’t let up, he bumps Nakamura off the apron before shoving him back in the ring. He puts Nakamura in a corner, then throws more hands and even stomps.
Styles snapmares then kicks Nakamura again. He watches Nakamura writhe, then drags him back up. Styles snap suplexes Nakamura over, covers, ONE. Styles takes his time bringing Nakamura up to then whip him into a corner. Nakamura boots Styles back, then gives a back elbow. Nakamura runs but into a backbreaker. Styles stalks Nakamura, then brings him up, but Nakamura throat chops him! Nakamura digs fingers into Styles’ face, then gives knee shots before running. Things speed up, but Nakamura fakes out the dropkick, only to run into a different dropkick. Nakamura slips out of the ring again but Styles follows.
Styles puts Nakamura into more barriers, then into the barriers across the away. Styles runs in, for a big splash against those same barriers. Nakamura topples down, but Styles brings him up again. Styles gets plenty of space, but misses the second splash. Nakamura throws forearms on styles, then puts Styles into barriers now. Nakamura drags Styles over and throws him right into steel steps! Styles hits knees first and flips over the steps. Nakamura won’t give him time to recover, he pushes Styles into the ring, to then give him a knee lift against the apron. Nakamura isn’t done, he gets elevation for a knee drop guillotine! He puts Styles in, covers, TWO. Again, TWO. Nakamura keeps his cool, but fans are dueling.
Nakamura toys with Styles while he crawls to a corner. He drags Styles up for body shots, then gives him round houses and straight kicks to every part of Styles’ body. Nakamura puts him in another corner to grind a boot into Styles’ chin. He has no reason to back off, this is No DQs, so he gives Styles some BAD Vibrations. Nakamura snapmares and drops a knee, then covers, TWO. Again, TWO, and Nakamura grows further frustrated. He stalks Styles, but Styles chops back. Nakamura brushes it off, then drives in knees and a kick. Styles drops to the mat, but Nakamura just toys with him again. Styles stands but staggers, so Nakamura clubs and whips him.
Nakamura throws Styles with a back drop, then stands on him for a cover. ONE, but Nakamura keeps on Styles with knees to the ribs, shoulders and head. Nakamura drags Styles up with a facelock, but Styles endures. Fans rally for Styles but they let Styles and Nakamura know “We Want Tables.” Styles back drops Nakamura but Nakamura lands on his feet. Nakamura runs at Styles and hits the dynamic dropkick! Styles is sent out of the ring, and Nakamura goes out to fetch him. Nakamura throws Styles into the barriers, then stomps him more. Nakamura brings Styles up and throws him into the time keeper’s area, but Styles lands on his feet!
Styles rocks Nakamura back, then jumps up, only for Nakamura to sweep the legs! Styles crashes on the barriers, then Nakamura drags him up into the ring. Nakamura keeps going, dragging Styles up for a sleeper hold. Styles endures the squeeze, so Nakamura turns it into a dragon sleeper. Styles endures again and stands up, but Nakamura shifts for the inverted exploder. Nakamura throws Styles, but Styles lands on his feet to rock Nakamura with a right. Nakamura staggers back, Styles runs in but is put on the apron. Styles hits Nakamura away, springboards, but Nakamura catches him to put him on the top rope. Nakamura steps back to run in, for the Top Shelf knee!
Nakamura tosses Styles down, then fires himself up. He climbs up the corner, flying knee! Cover, TWO, but Nakamura isn’t done. He lifts Styles in the fireman’s carry, for Landslide! Cover TWO! Nakamura glares at Styles, he wants this over with. He keeps stomping Styles, even at the ropes and apron. Nakamura stomps and stomps and stomps, then leaves Styles limp on the edge. Nakamura starts looking for something to use, and confiscates a chair. He returns to the ring with it while Styles crawls to a corner.
Nakamura waits for Styles to stand, and takes a swing, but Styles ducks under to get Nakamura in a fireman’s carry! Nakamura slips down, but his strike fest is disrupted by Styles’ Phenomenal Blitz! Styles misses his backhand, Nakamura misses the roundhouse, but Nakamura hits the back heel kick! Styles wobbles, Nakamura brings the chair back, and uses the inverted exploder to throw Styles onto the chair!
Cover, TWO! And Nakamura is furious. He goes to the corner, and prepares his ace move. He runs, but Styles throws the chair at him!! Nakamura clutches his knee after hitting steel. Styles is BLOODY, as the chair ricocheted back onto his face. Styles doesn’t care, though, he goes back to Nakamura. Nakamura enziguris! Then runs, but into a Calf Crusher!
Styles pulls back as hard as he can on Nakamura’s banged up leg. Nakamura endures, Nakamura flails, but Nakamura can’t get near any ropes. Instead, Nakamura rolls it over, TWO, but into a Triangle Hold! Styles deadlifts Nakamura into Clash position but Nakamura scrambles towards ropes. Nakamura holds on, so Styles dumps him over, to then knock him off with a forearm. Styles takes aim, and springboards, but he knew Nakamura would slip back into the ring! He gives Nakamura a forearm to the back of the head! Then, Ushigoroshi!
Cover, TWO! Styles stands up while fans duel again. He drags Nakamura up, but Nakamura revives, only for Styles to evade and hit a PELE! Styles goes for the Clash, but Nakamura slips out and LOW BLOWS!
The move Nakamura has been using the most, and it’s legal. In which case, STYLES uses a Low Blow!
Fans applaud, because Styles is finally even with Nakamura in some respect. But both men are down, so the referee starts a 10 count. Nakamura and Styles slowly stir but the count is at 7. Nakamura grabs Styles but Styles pushes him away. They sluggishly brawl while standing. Styles rocks Nakamura, but Nakamura hits back. Styles hits again, but Nakamura comes back. Another from Styles, another from Nakamura, and they start speeding up. Styles gets the edge, then brings Nakamura up for one more elbow. Nakamura headbutts, then they BOTH low block kick each other! They both fall again, clutching their groins in pain. The 10 count returns and reaches 7. Then it hits 9… Double count out?!
Double Count Out; Styles retains
It’s a draw, which fans boo with good reason. But the result is, that neither Styles nor Nakamura stood up. Therefore, STILL the WWE Champion, AJ Styles!
This isn’t how anyone wanted the match to end, especially the two men in the ring. But since this is how the match ends, will the feud never end between Phenomenal One and King of Strong Style?
Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley VS Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn!
The #YEPMovement burned all the bridges on SmackDown, right to the point where Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan beat them in a Wrestlemania tag team match to fire them! However, Stephanie McMahon let her grudge with Kurt Angle trump her disdain for Kevin & Sami, so now they’re back. Though, they’ve also gotten on the wrong side of Angle, hence why they’re up against a Monster Among Men and Alpha Male. Can Sami & Kevin hope to survive such a dominant duo?
The bell rings and we start with the Underdog Sami and Bobby Lashley, the man who supposedly gave him vertigo. Sami is wary of Lashley, but Lashley powers him to a corner. Sami turns it around, then taunts Lashley as he honors the break. Lashley backs Sami up into another cover, so Sami uses the ropes as a defense. Sami grins as he circles with Lashley. Sami gets the waistlock and the headlock, but Lashley powers out. Lashley runs Sami over with a shoulder, then brings Sami to a facelock. Sami scrambles away, fearing the vertigo suplex. He tags out to Kevin, and now Kevin circles with Lashley. Lashley gets a waistlock slam, then whips Kevin corner to corner. Lashley tackles Kevin, then whips him again, but Kevin boots him. Kevin runs out, but into a neckbreaker.
Lashley brings Kevin up, but Kevin escapes to tag out to Sami. Sami runs in and things speed up, but Lashley lariats Sami down. Lashley whips Sami corner to corner now for a big corner clothesline. Lashley drives elbows into Sami and Sami staggers around. Another whip, but Sami bails out of the ring. Lashley waits for Sami to catch his breath, but then follows him out there. Sami kicks back, then whips, but Lashley reverses to send Sami into barriers. Lashley stalks Sami to the announce desks and bounces him off the lid. Lashley just leaps up and fights off Kevin, but Sami hotshots Lashley down. Sami tags Kevin and Kevin goes right after Lashley with the back senton. Kevin puts Lashley in the ring and stomps away, then tags Sami back in.
Sami rains right hands down on Lashley, taking that headband off. Sami drags Lashley up for more right hands, then wraps Lashley in a chinlock. Kevin coaches his best friend on while Sami taunts Strowman. Lashley endures the squeeze, and fights out with body shots. Sami keeps Lashley from reaching Strowman, but Lashley reels Sami into a complete shot. Both men are down but crawling for their corners. Sami tags in Kevin, and Kevin intercepts Lashley. Kevin drops a senton but onto Lashley’s knees. Strowman and the fans rally, hot tag! Strowman rallies on Kevin with clubbing clotheslines, then the corner crash! Sami thinks about returning, but reconsiders. Strowman doesn’t care, he chases Sami down, running Kevin over in the process!
Sami is still sent into barriers, and now fans fire up. Strowman runs Kevin over again! Strowman puts Kevin in the ring, but Kevins scrambles to a corner. Kevin dodges and Strowman runs into the post! Sami tags in, and aims at Strowman. Sami runs in, but Strowman catches him! Strowman scoops but Sami slips out and runs away again. Sami wants to retreat, but Kevin wants to stand and fight. Kevin convinces Sami to stay, or rather Sami tricks Kevin. Sami puts Kevin in the ring while he retreats, leaving Kevin to suffer the clubbing forearm!
Strowman roars, then brings Kevin up. Kevin bails out, and puts Sami in the ring. Sami drags Kevin up, Kevin shoves Sami so Sami slaps Kevin! Sami apologizes, but Kevin is angry. Kevin backs Sami down, and Sami realizes he’s surrounded. Sami manages to slip away while Kevin still yells at him, but Lashley tags in. Strowman squashes Kevin, then SPINEBUSTER from Lashley. Lashley lifts Kevin back up, for the vertigo suplex! He slam Kevin down, then covers, Lashley & Strowman win!
Winners: Lashley & Strowman, Lashley pinning
The best friends might be back on the rocks, but if Strowman and Lashley stay together, could they completely dominate the Raw Tag Team Division?
However, just because they won, doesn’t mean the domination is over. Sami finds himself running away from Strowman, only to be flanked by Lashley. Strowman brings Kevin back in, for the Monster Slam!
Fans roar with Strowman while Sami protests. But then Sami reconsiders when Strowman looks at him. Strowman still chases Sami down, and puts him in the ring. Sami begs for mercy, but instead, he receives his own Monster Slam!
The domination is over for tonight, but will the rest of Raw soon feel what Sami & Kevin just felt?
Roman Reigns VS Samoa Joe!
This grudge match goes back several months, as The Big Dog has always been a prime target for the Destroyer. Lately, all Joe has seen from Roman is failure, so he wants to put Roman out of his misery. With Roman on Raw and Joe on SmackDown, how will this potentially final showdown go?
From the moment Roman appears, Joe taunts and trash talks him. And the very second Roman gets in, the talk intensifies, until Joe just unleashes jabs and knees on the Big Dog! Joe won’t let up, he throws Roman out of the ring and then stalks him. Roman fires off with right hands, but Joe gets him with body shots. Joe throws Roman into barriers, then stalks him as he staggers over to announce desks. Roman swings on Joe, but Joe counters with a yurinagi into the tables!
The table explodes under the impact! And fans are thunderous for “Joe! Joe!” There’s no rest for Roman, Joe drags him up to throw him across the other announce desk. Then Joe hits the hat trick, throwing Roman over the third table. Joe backs off while the referee checks on Roman. But then seeing Roman getting up, Joe goes after him again. He puts Roman in the ring, but the referee has Joe stay back. Fans sing the familiar “Joe is gonna kill~ you~!” while Roman slowly stands up. Roman wants this match to happen no matter what, so the referee rings the bell. Joe goes at Roman again with jabs, then backs off at the referee’s count. Joe brings Roman up for more jabs, then snapmares him for a chop to the back of the neck and kick to the front. He drops a knee, then covers, TWO.
Joe won’t let up, he puts Roman’s arm in a keylock. Roman endures while fans duel on whether or not “Roman Sucks!” Roman stands up but Joe throws him back down. Joe stands over Roman, then sits him up for a neck wrench. Roman endures the twist, and Joe says, “This is the pain I was talking about.” Joe drives his elbows in then twists even harder. He shifts to a chinbar, but Roman resists. Joe kicks Roman’s arm, then goes back to the neck wrench. Roman endures again, but Joe tells him this will end if Roman just goes away. Roman refuses to quit, he pries Joe’s fingers off. He starts firing off shots, then whips, but Joe reverses to hit the back elbow and Pele! Cover, TWO.
Joe keeps his cool while glaring down at Roman. He lights Roman up with more jabs, then a knee, and back to the neck wrench. Joe traps an arm while pulling back on the chinlock. Roman works on the hold, then fights out with body shots. He rocks Joe to a corner, but Joe puts him on the apron. Joe gives Roman a hotshot, then builds speed to DIVE!
Joe wipes Roman out into the barriers, and the referee checks on Roman after that impact. Roman stirs, but Joe is upon him. They go back into the ring, cover for Joe, TWO. Joe keeps on Roman with elbows to the shoulders and neck, then goes back to the keylock. Joe grins, he can do this all night long. He brings Roman down to the mat, but Roman doesn’t give in. Roman endures a long time, then finally stands back up. Roman punches Joe off, but Joe punches back. They go back and forth with big forearm shots. Roman gets the edge, but Joe shoves him for a forearm on the rebound. Joe runs, Roman boots him down! Joe slumps out of the ring, so Roman decides to follow.
Roman is a bit slow, sore from everything Joe’s down. He comes around the corner, for the Drive-By Dropkick! Joe goes down again, but Roman drags him up and in. Roman rallies with lariats, then has Joe in a corner for the close-range clotheslines. He gives all ten, then runs, but into an atomic drop and boot from Joe. Joe adds the senton, covers, TWO. Now Joe grows a bit annoyed with Roman, and drags him back up. Roman fights off the yurinagi but Joe knees low, only for Roman to elbow him away. Roman runs into Joe’s boot, but gives Joe a spinebuster! TWO, and both men are exhausted.
They slowly stand, clearing out the cobwebs. Roman locks and loads, but Joe dodges! Joe gets the sleeper but Roman hotshots him on the top rope. Roman walks off to catch his breath, and sees Joe in position again. He runs, but the Drive-By is caught! Joe drags Roman into the ring but Roman slips out to roll Joe up, TWO. SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO. Roman and Joe stand up, and Roman lets out the howl. He runs in, to a kick! But he keeps going, SPEAR!
Cover, ROPEBREAK! Joe’s ring awareness saves him! And Roman is at a loss for what to do. Roman sits up, and so does Joe. Roman runs, builds speed, but runs into a boot. Joe wraps him in the sleeper! Roman paws and claws at the hold, Joe pulls him back, but Roman rolls through to a cover! TWO as Joe lets go of the hold. Joe runs in, but misses, then Roman shoves Joe. Roman rolls Joe, TWO, into the Coquina Clutch!
Joe has the body scissors added, and even traps an arm. Roman starts fading, the referee checks on him. Roman sparks to life and gets the ropebreak! Fans aren’t happy, they thought he was out already. Joe himself is angry, but then he gets an idea. He drags Roman up and over to a corner. He puts Roman on the top rope, then prepares the Muscle Buster! Roman fights back and punches him away, to then leap over and SPEAR! Cover, Roman wins!
Winner: Roman, by pinfall
Roman wins with resiliency that proved just a little more than Joe could destroy. When will there be another opportunity against The Beast and the Universal Championship?
My Thoughts:
Despite what the music video commercial says, this co-branded Backlash didn’t really have the best of both worlds. There was so much that was really good with this PPV, but then so much that wasn’t. The kickoff match was surprisingly good, Ruby is making a name for herself, even with the Squad helping. The Bayley-Sasha story also grows without even having matches against each other, which will make for a great blow-off at one of the bigger PPVs. Rollins-Miz truly burned it down, and it was just the opener. Nia-Alexa 2 had great story, and it shows Alexa has the great ability to adapt. Nia herself might be going up against The Squad now, as Bayley and Sasha are set aside in their own story.
Even Hardy-Orton was good, given Orton’s slow and cerebral style going against Hardy’s faster pace. I was a bit surprised Hardy retained, but at the same time, it wouldn’t benefit Orton much to get the belt back at this point. That Elias segment that just escalated in interruptions and silliness was actually really fun, in my opinion. It was like the most elaborate smokescreen for Roode to get his revenge on Elias while implying anything can happen with both shows together on one PPV. Bryan-Cass went as expected, Bryan winning but Cass being a bully and beating him down anyway. This is a good way to extend the feud a bit so we don’t get to Bryan-Miz too soon, but I’m not sure what else Bryan can do to Cass. He could win in a more intense match, but that isn’t something they can risk given Bryan’s past injuries.
And it was around here that the status quo looked to be more of a lock than Roman winning. No titles changed hand, not even in the match I was most certain it’d happen. Carmella retaining was a surprise, but not necessarily in the good way. The match didn’t seem much better than anything on the usual SmackDown. Money in the Bank is coming next, so maybe the plan is to have the second ever Ms. MITB to be the one to take it from her. The WWE Championship No DQ should have been full speed from the start. The second half was good, that chair spot was scary, but then to end on a draw wasn’t very fun. Strowman-Lashley VS Kevin-Sami was fun, though. Roman-Joe wasn’t. If Lesnar is boring for being too #SuplexCity, what makes Vince think #RestHoldCity would be any better?
My Score: 8.0/10
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Are the Reiwa Musketeers truly mighty?
World Tag League continues into the home stretch, and TMDK is at the top of Block A! But will Shota Umino & Ren Narita make The Mighty kneel?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Six Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Jado VS Tiger Mask, Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr; Tiger Mask, Altantis & Soberano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tomoaki Honma & Bishamon VS Master Wato, Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki; Wato, Nagata & Suzuki win.
- 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Lance Archer, Alex Zayne, Ryusuke Taguchi & Oskar Leube; LIJ wins.
- 2023 World Tag League, Block A: The Gates of Agony VS Great-O-Khan & Henare; Khan & Henare win.
- 2023 World Tag League, Block A: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa; Yano & Ishii win.
- 2023 World Tag League, Block A: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi VS Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin; Kidd & Coughlin win.
- 2023 World Tag League, Block A: Shota Umino & Ren Narita VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current A Block standings.
TMDK: 4-1, 8 points
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii: 3-2, 6 points
Shota Umino & Ren Narita: 3-2, 6 points
War Dogs: 3-2, 6 points
Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa: 2-3, 4 points
The United Empire: 2-3, 4 points
The House of Torture: 2-3, 4 points
The Gates of Agony: 1-4, 2 points
2023 World Tag League, Block A: The Gates of Agony VS Great-O-Khan & Henare w/ Callum Newman!
Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona pulled one over on the House of Torture but couldn’t pull out the win. And the United Empire is holding on by a thread after the War Dogs took a bite out of them. Will one team’s run in the block end right here and now?
The teams sort out and though Henare and Liona stare down and egg each other on, Khan and Kaun start. That’s not gonna be confusing… Fans make sure to chant for “O-KHAN!” so we know the difference. The bell rings, Khan and Kaun circle. They tie up, Khan puts Kaun on the ropes, then lets off, to pull Kaun’s ear! Kaun breaks free but Khan ROCKS him! Khan whips, Kaun reverses then hurdles to ELBOW Khan down! Fans cheer, and Kaun builds up energy to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Kaun drags Khan up, whips him to the corner and tags Liona. The Gates double whip, then they double shoulder Khan down!
Liona & Kaun then clamp on DOUBLE CLAWS into Khan’s shoulders! Henare CLUBS Kaun down and he eggs Liona on again. The ref keeps them back, only Liona is legal. Henare has no choice but to go back, and Liona tags Kaun back in. The Gates mug Khan in the corner, RAM and CLUB on repeat! The ref counts, Liona lets off and then Kaun slingshot sentons! Fans cheer the agility, Kaun covers, TWO! Kaun drags Khan up, reels him in, underhooks, but Khan fights his way to ropes! Khan back drops Kaun up and out! Henare rushes over to get Kaun up and sends him into railing! Henare HEADBUTTS Kaun while Khan goes after Liona!
Khan RAMS Liona into railing, through the gate! Henare throws up the crown, the fans rally up, and Khan slides back into the ring. Kaun crawls while the ring count starts, but Kaun rolls in at 6 of 20. Khan clamps on the HITSUJIGOROSHI! Kaun endures, but Khan scoops him for a SLAM! Cover, TWO! Khan taunts Kaun, sits him up and clamps on the claw into a shoulder! Henare joins in to clamp onto the other shoulder! Liona CLUBS Khan, and again Liona and Henare shout at each other! The ref gets between them, they yell at him now, but he asserts his authority. Henare backs off again while Khan stands on Kaun.
Henare tags in, he stomps Kaun, then he drags Kaun up to snapmare and KICK! And SENTON! Fans fire up while Henare taunts Liona, then covers. TWO, but Henare drags Kaun back up. Henare bumps Kaun off buckles, tags Khan, and Khan puts some stank on his Mongolian Chops! Then he turns Kaun around to Mongolian Chop again! Fans fire up as Khan hops up, and sits on the Cameroonian Prince like a throne! Kaun flails, the ref reprimands, but Khan pulls the arms back! The ref counts, Khan hops off at 4, to then HIP TOSS Kaun down! Cocky cover, ONE!! Khan ROCKS Liona, but Liona just roars!
The ref has to keep Liona back, and Khan drags Kaun up. GERMAN- NO, Kaun fights that and switches. Khan switches back, back suplex, but Kaun lands on his feet! Kick and DDT! Both Khan and Kaun are down but Henare storms in to stomp Kaun! Henare whips Kaun to a corner, but Kaun dodges the Shining Wizard and runs the ropes, to LARIAT Henare down! Fans fire up and Kaun crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Liona! Liona CLOBBERS Khan, CLOBBERS him again, then whips to ropes. Khan KNEES low! Liona comes back to LARIAT! Fans fire up with Liona and he sees Khan go to the open corner.
Liona fires up, runs in, back body block! Liona goes corner to corner but Khan follows to clothesline! Khan fakes Liona out, ROCKS him, but Liona ROCKS him back! Khan fires another forearm, Liona fires back! They go back and forth, fans rally up, and Liona fires a flurry! Liona roars, but Khan Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian Chops! And then UPPERCUTS! Khan UPPERCUTS again, then winds up, but Liona scoops him! SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Khan saves himself but Liona shouts to Kaun! But Henare SMACKS Kaun off the apron then throws Kaun into railing! Khan CLUBS Liona, and clamps on the IRON CLAW SLEEPER!
Liona flails, endures, throws elbows, and breaks free. But Khan UPPERCUTS him in the back! Liona stays up and Khan eggs him on. But Henare shouts, he wants in! The fans fire up because they want to see that, too! Khan says okay, and he tags in Henare! Fans fire up as the Māori Face of Fury circles with the Samoan Lion! Henare shows off his Haka, so Liona responds in kind! They then fire off fast hands! The fans fire up as this is fast and furious! Henare ROCKS Liona, Liona ROCKS Henare, repeat! Fans rally as the forearm shots go back and forth! Henare HEADBUTTS, but then Liona HEADBUTTS!
Henare HEADBUTTS again, but Liona HEADBUTTS again! Kaun and Khan coach their teammates on, Henare fires a flurry of HEADBUTTS! Both men wobble, the fans fire up, and Liona comes back to JUMPING HEADBUTT! Henare staggers to a corner, Liona runs in, but into a KNEE! Henare runs, into a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Henare survives and fans fire up! Liona roars, he tags in Kaun, and Liona BLASTS Khan! The Gates drag Henare up, HEAVEN’S- NO, Henare slips free and ELBOWS Kaun down! Liona runs in but Henare ELBOWS him, too! Henare goes up to FLYING CHUCK!
Fans fire up and Liona roars! Henare dodges Liona, to RAMPAGE outta nowhere!! But Henare can’t make the cover, so he crawls to hot tag Khan! Khan storms up on Liona to fire off forearms! But Kaun CLUBS Khan, and then Liona CLUBS Khan! The Gates double whip, but Khan slips around to shove Kaun into Liona! Then Khan puts Kaun on Liona’s shoulders and he sweeps the leg to make Liona POWERBOMB Kaun! Fans fire up and Khan aims at Liona, LARIAT! The fans fire up more and Khan storms up on Kaun in the corner. Khan whips corner to corner and clotheslines! Then torture racks!
Kaun endures being bent, and then Khan hits a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kaun is still in this but Khan hauls Kaun up. Kaun slips out of the scoop, knees low, and whips, but Khan reverses. Kaun goes up and over, runs back in and SHOTGUNS Khan down! Kaun roars, Liona joins in, HIP ATTACK to METEORA! The Gates then haul Khan up, LARIAT SANDWICH! Cover, Henare breaks it! Liona TOSSES Henare then coordinates with Kaun again. But Henare drags Liona out! Kaun fireman’s carries, GUTBUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO! Khan is still in this and Kaun calls to Liona. Liona gets back in and the Gates haul Khan up.
But Henare saves Khan from Heaven’s Gates! WHEEL KICK for Kaun, and HEEL KICK for Liona! Liona stays up so Henare BODY BLOWS and HEADBUTTS! Liona HEADBUTTS back! The fans fire up as all four men are down at the 15 minute mark! Kaun rises, and he drags Khan back up. Fireman’s carry, but Khan slips free, IRON CLAW SLEEPER! F G O PLEX! Both men are down again, but Khan drags Kaun up. IRON CLAW, but Kaun DECKS Khan! Only for Khan to rise! Khan blocks a kick, clinches, IRON CLAW URENAGE!! Cover, the Empire wins!
Winners: Great-O-Khan & Henare, by pinfall (gain 2 points; The Gates of Agony earn 0)
The Dominator upgraded his Eliminator and proved he is the GREATER Khan/Kaun! Is there still a chance for the Empire to take over World Tag League?
2023 World Tag League, Block A: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa!
The Clown Prince & Stone Pitbull pulled off a shocker in last round’s main event by beating the Reiwa Musketeers! As for The Green Supernova and his protege, they learned The Mighty Don’t Kneel. Can Yano & Ishii build upon their momentum and head for the top? Or will Kaito & Oiwa still #CreateTheFuture?
Ishii and Kaito stare down, then start pushing each other. The ref has them back down, the teams sort out, and Kaito starts against Ishii. They rush in to tie up, then Kaito fires a forearm! Ishii eggs him on so Kaito throws more forearms! Then Ishii throws forearms in return! Fans fire up as the shots keep going! Ishii ROCKS Kaito, fires more forearms, then runs to run Kaito over! But Kaito’s right up to DROPKICK Ishii down! But then Ishii’s right back up and they go back to throwing forearms! Kaito gets the edge, but Ishii ducks the lariat! Ishii swings but Kaito ducks the lariat! But Ishii spins Kaito around to suplex!
Kaito fights free but Ishii ROCKS him! Ishii swings but into an arm-drag! Fans cheer and Kaito steps over for the armlock. Ishii endures, but Kaito wrenches and YANKS the arm! Tag to Oiwa, they mug Ishii, and then double whip. They DOUBLE ARM-DRAG Ishii, then Yano runs in. But he gets DOUBLE ARM-DRAGS, then DOUBLE DROPKICKS! Fans fire up with Team Noah and Oiwa drags Ishii up. Oiwa tries to scoop but Ishii fights it. Oiwa throws forearms but Ishii eggs him on. Ishii leans into the shots and he backs Oiwa down! Oiwa ends up cornered as he throws more forearms! Ishii then CHOPS!
Ishii CHOPS, the ref warns those are really high, but Ishii shoves him aside to CHOP again! Kaito protests, but Ishii tells him to shut up. Kaito storms in, the ref keeps him back, and Ishii bumps Oiwa off buckles. Tag to Yano and Ishii tells Kaito to shut up. Yano eggs Kaito on now, then he whips Oiwa into bare buckles! When did Yano take the buckle pad off?! Fans cheer while Oiwa writhes, and Kaito protests about the buckle pad. Now Yano tells him to shut up! Yano whips Oiwa back into bare buckles! Oiwa falls back and writhes, but Yano drags him up again. But Oiwa suplexes first! Fans fire up while both men are down!
Kaito coaches Oiwa on and Oiwa crawls over, hot tag to Kaito! Fans fire up as Kaito DROPKICKS Yano, and he DROPKICKS Ishii! Then he arm-drags Yano, and he arm-drags Ishii! Kaito whips Yano, Yano reverses but Kaito comes back to NECKBREAKER DROP! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Kaito storms back up on Yano. Kaito chicken wings the arms but Yano fights the lift! Yano breaks free but Kaito CLUBS him! Kaito runs, into an atomic- NO, Kaito CLUBS Yano first! Kaito whips, Yano holds ropes and taunts him! Kaito runs in, misses, and Yano SLAPS him! Kaito runs in, blocks a kick, to DRAGON SCREW!
Kaito keeps hold of Yano’s leg but Ishii CLUBS him! Kaito CLUBS Ishii in return! Fans fire up as Kaito sends Ishii out and whips Yano. Yano reverses to throw Kaito by his hair! Both men are down, Yano crawls, hot tag to Ishii! Ishii storms up on Kaito, sits him up, and KICKS him in the back! Kaito stands up in anger and he fires forearm after forearm! Ishii ROCKS Kaito with just one! Kaito UPPERCUTS, whips corner to corner, but Ishii comes back! Only for Kaito to DROPKICK him! Fans fire up while both are down, and they crawl again. Kaito hot tags Oiwa! Oiwa runs in at Ishii to forearm smash!
Oiwa keeps moving but Ishii ROCKS Oiwa back! Oiwa ROCKS Ishii again, scoops, and POWERSLAMS! Then SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer and Oiwa drags Ishii up. Oiwa gut wrenches but Ishii fights the suplex! Ishii reels Oiwa in, sends him into Kaito, then runs. But the Noah boys DOUBLE DROPKICK him! Yano gets on the apron but Oiwa BLASTS him down! Oiwa & Kaito drag Ishii up, they double whip corner to corner, then Kaito sends Oiwa in to ELBOW Ishii! Kaito forearm smashes, then feeds to the SPIN POWERSELAM! Cover, TWO!! Ishii escapes in time and the fans fire back up!
Oiwa drags Ishii up while someone is sent into railing! Oiwa waistlocks, but Ishii fights with elbows! Oiwa ROCKS Ishii, Ishii ROCKS Oiwa, but Oiwa CHOPS back! Oiwa runs but Yano trips him! Yano gets in, Oiwa fires forearms but Yano hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Kaito runs in to fire off forearms! Kaito runs, but Yano dodges to clinch and BELLY2BELLY! Fans fire up and Yano watches Oiwa. Yano atomic drops then trips Oiwa, to CATAPULT him into the bare buckles! Ishii is back to GERMAN SUPLEX Oiwa! Fans fire up again as Ishii drags Oiwa up. Ishii reels Oiwa in, hoists him up, POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!!
Fans fire up as Oiwa survives but Yano keeps after Kaito on the outside. Ishii waits on Oiwa, runs, but Oiwa stops the lariat! And he ducks the next, but not the third LARIAT! Cover, Kaito breaks it! Fans fire up as Ishii ROCKS and whips Kaito. Kaito ROLLING- NO, Ishii dodges, but then Kaito dodges, JUMPING SHINING WIZARD! Then Kaito chicken wings Ishii! Ishii mule kicks free! But Kaito dropkicks the leg! And the other leg! And then he dropkicks Ishii into Oiwa’s roll-up! TWO!! Ishii survives but the Noah boys fire up! Fans rally, Kaito goes up and Oiwa drags Ishii up into the Electric Chair! DOUBLE IMPACT DOOMSDAY!!
Oiwa fires up and he hauls Ishii back up! Deadlift GUT WRENCH KNEE COMBO! Bridging cover, but Yano breaks it! Fans fire up again, and Kaito throws Yano back out. Oiwa snarls, drags Ishii back up, and reels him in. Ishii fights free, dodges Oiwa’s lariat but Oiwa dodges back! ANACONDA SUPLEX! High stack, TWO!! Ishii survives again and fans fire back up! Oiwa roars, waistlocks and deadlifts, but Ishii fights! Oiwa wrenches, but Ishii HEADBUTTS! Oiwa SLAPS, ROLLING ELBOWS, but Ishii HEADBUTTS again! Fans fire up as Oiwa is down and Ishii staggers back! Ishii slaps himself awake and then builds speed, to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!!
Oiwa survives and fans are thunderous! Yano drags Kaito away to send him into railing! Ishii drags Oiwa up to suplex, but Oiwa fights free! Oiwa gets around Ishii, Kaito returns, ROLLING ELBOW into the GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, Kaito intercepts Yano, TWO!!! Ishii still survives but Oiwa fires up! Oiwa waistlocks and he drags Ishii up again, to full nelson! Ishii fights that, breaks free and gets around, but Oiwa spins him! Ishii fights the suplex but Oiwa DROPKICKS! Ishii SLIDING D!! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa survives and Ishii roars! Ishii hauls Oiwa up, suplex, BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, Chaos wins!
Winners: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Kaito & Oiwa earn 0)
Another gritty fight and another victory for Ishii & Yano! Will they fight their way to the front of the line? Are Kaito & Oiwa all but done in their run?
2023 World Tag League, Block A: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi w/ Dick Togo VS Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin!
The House of Torture made the Gates of Agony pay for tricking them, and the War Dogs brought down the United Empire. But now, related branches of the Bullet Club meet at a crucial point in the tournament. Will things still be Too Sweet after this? Or is one side going to be very bitter?
Well, seems the House doesn’t care for David Finlay’s pets as they all step on War Dogs towels. But then Kidd runs out there with a chair! The House gets away, but Coughlin comes up to CLOBBER them from behind! Coughlin CLUBS away on Tokyo Pimp, CHOKES him, then ROCKS him with a right! Kidd JAMS Evil with a chair, then goes out after Yujiro! But Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER! Kanemaru CLUBS Coughlin with his whiskey bottle! And Evil JAMS Kidd with the chair! Evil CHOKES Kidd, Kanemaru stomps Coughlin, and then Yujiro drags Coughlin up. The House puts Coughlin in the ring and the bell rings.
Yujiro drags Coughlin up, knees him low, and CLUBS him on the neck! Coughlin ROCKS Yujiro, Yujiro claws the eyes! Yujiro whips Coughlin and surprise! The blue buckle pad goes away! Coughlin hits bare buckles, and Yujiro drags him up. Yujiro bumps Coughlin off the bare buckles, the ref reprimands, but Yujiro snapmares Coughlin to run and basement BOOT! Cover, TWO! The House is annoyed but the Dreadnought is tougher than that. Evil tags in, and he drags Coughlin up to whip back into bare buckles! Coughlin writhes, Evil grabs a War Dogs towel but says the ref has to stop Kidd. Then Evil CHOKES Coughlin!
Kidd gets past the ref but Evil kicks him down! Evil drags Coughlin to a cover, ONE! Another cover, ONE! A third cover, TWO!! Coughlin is still in this and fans applaud. Evil kicks Coughlin around, stands on him, but Coughlin bench presses the foot away! Coughlin trips Evil then deadlift GUT WRENCH SUPLEXES him! Kidd BLASTS Yujiro for good measure! Kidd drags Evil up, throws him out, and then goes out after him to RAMS into the timekeeper! Abe-san still suffers, even when Evil is the victim! Kidd puts Evil in for Coughlin to CHOKE! The ref reprimands, Coughlin lets off at 4 and Evil sputters.
Coughlin stomps Evil, drags him up, and then RAMS him into the red corner! Kidd tags in, and he BITES Evil! The ref counts, Kidd lets off, but now Coughlin BITES Evil! They’re dogs for real! Kidd stomps Evil, tags Coughlin, and Kidd digs his boots in. The ref reprimands, Kidd lets off, Coughlin then digs his boots in! The ref counts, Coughlin lets off and tags Kidd in. Kidd mocks the former world champion, “What you got?!” Evil stands up and puts some stank on clawing the eyes! But Kidd grabs those fingers and bends them! Kidd says hush, and then he SNAPS a finger! Evil clutches his hand, but uses the ref as a shield!
Kidd pushes past the ref but Evil blocks the kick, hands it to the ref, and mule kicks Kidd down! Evil tags Yujiro and Yujiro BLASTS Coughlin before he goes for Kidd. Yujiro TOSSES Kidd out, then distracts the ref so Dick can DECK Kidd! Kanemaru pulls up floor mats!? Kanemaru & Dick DOUBLE SNAP SUPLEX Kidd onto the bare floor! Coughlin gets after Yujiro and reels him in, but Yujiro BITES Coughlin’s hand! Yujiro’s got that dog in him, too! Yujiro then whips Coughlin into the bare buckles! Coughlin falls and writhes, flops out of the ring, but Kanemaru puts Kidd in. Yujiro stands Kidd up so he can BOOT him!
Yujiro reels Kidd in, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Kidd hangs in there and the fans rally up. Yujiro drags Kidd up and reels him in, but Kidd fights the lift! Kidd throws down elbows, but Yujiro kicks low. Yujiro whips but Kidd reverses and Yujiro hits the bare buckles! Kidd BITES Yujiro on the head! The ref reprimands, Kidd lets off at 4, but Dick distracts! Kanemaru grabs Kidd by the hair and turns him around, but Kidd UPPERCUTS the whiskey mist into the air! Down goes the Heel Master and the fans fire up! Kidd runs at Yujiro but Yujiro sends him into the ref! Down goes Marty Asami and Evil attacks Kidd!
Evil claws Kidd’s eyes, Dick joins in as they stomp away in the corner! Kidd flops out of the ring but Evil goes out after him. Evil & Dick haul Kidd up to bring him around, and then to the bare of the crowd! Yujiro keeps on Coughlin by sending him into railing! Evil & Dick go all the way to the back, to an exit! They throw Kidd out of the arena and block the door! Or rather, they LOCK the door!? How is Kidd gonna get back? Yujiro keeps beating down Coughlin and Evil goes over to help him out. The House mugs Coughlin 4v1, but he still fights back! Fans fire up as Coughlin ROCKS Dick but Evil kicks Coughlin!
Evil brings Coughlin around the way, claws the eyes, and then puts him in the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Yujiro digs a chair into Coughlin’s head! Fans clear out, the bell rings! Wait, what? Did the House win? No, that’s just Dick doing that, because he thinks the House should win already. Wait, what’s Kidd doing up in the balcony area?! Fans fire up as Kidd SUPER CORSSBODIES the whole House down!! Kidd rises and fans actually cheer! Kidd drags Yujiro up and brings him around the way, to then run him all the way to ringside, and POST him!! Kidd then shoves Yujiro into the ring, waits on him to stand, and ROCKS him with a haymaker!
Kidd suplexes, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, the ref is back, TWO!!! Yujiro survives but Kidd shakes his head. Coughlin is back, the fans rally up and the War Dogs get Yujiro up. They reel Yujiro in, DOUBLE MUSCLE BUSTER!! Cover, Evil breaks it! Coughlin kicks Evil, TOSSES him out, then the War Dogs fire up again. Coughlin goes up a corner, Kidd gut wrenches Yujiro, but the lights go down!! And then the House attacks in the dark! The lights come back up, the House is standing tall, and guess what? Sho finally appears, disguised as a ring staff member! That’s where the Murder Machine was this whole time!
The House now mugs the War Dogs 5v2, and then they all focus on Kidd! Fans boo, the House is up to their old tricks. Evil hauls Kidd up, he and Kanemaru whip him into a corner, then Dick runs in to ELBOW! Kanemaru ELBOWS! Sho forearm smashes! Evil clotheslines! Snapmare, and then they set Kidd up for the DICK CHOP!! Yujiro covers and Kanemaru puts the ref back in, TWO!?!? Kidd survives and the House is furious! Yujiro sits Kidd up, PIMP JUICE!! Cover, Coughlin YANKS the ref out! Kanemaru attacks Coughlin, and Sho helps out! They POST Coughlin! Evil stands Kidd up, but here comes Gedo!
Gedo has a SLEDGEHAMMER!! The Blacksmith chases off the extra House boys, and Coughlin puts Yujiro in for Kidd! Kidd LOW BLOWS Yujiro! Then the War Dogs get the pimp cane! CANE SHOT for the Tokyo Pimp!! Turnabout is fair play, and the War Dogs get Yujiro up! HIJACKER TOMBSTONE!!!! Cover, Coughlin puts the ref back in, War Dogs win!!
Winners: Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Evil & Yujiro earn 0)
If all’s fair in love and war, then the House can’t complain that their own tricks got used against them! But will this be the last straw in the dysfunction between Bullet Club sub units? Will Kidd & Coughlin focus on finishing WTL on top first?
2023 World Tag League, Block A: Shota Umino & Ren Narita VS TMDK w/ Kosei Fujita!
It’s a battle for the top of the block! Will it be the Reiwa Musketeers that lead the way into the future? Or will Hysterical Shane Haste & Mad Mikey Nicholls refuse to kneel even now?
The teams sort out and Shane starts against Shota. The fans rally and duel as the two circle. Shane is a little annoyed by that but he and Shota tie up. Shota waistlocks, Shane switches, but Shota headlocks. Shane pops out the back, wrenches to a wristlock, then YANKS the arm. Shota rolls, slips around, spins Shane and cravats, but Shane fights around. Shane slips through, hammerlocks then headlocks for the takeover. Shota headscissors and he holds tight. Shane moves around, pops free and headlocks, but Shota headscissors again. Shane turns Shota over, traps the legs and pulls hair! Red Shoes reprimands but Shane shifts to a chinlock.
Shota endures as Shane bends him back, fishhooks him a bit, then clamps on for a neck wrench. But Shota fights free, trips Shane and has the toehold. Shane reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go cleanly and the fans applaud. Shane and Shota reset, tie up, and Shota wrenches to a wristlock. Shane reaches out but Shota keeps him from ropes, so Shane rolls, kips up, and snapmares. Shota avoids the dropkick, but then so does Shane! Shane UPPERCUTS, snapmares and basement dropkicks! Fans cheer and Shane flexes. Shane then whips, but Shota reverses to ELBOW Shane down and basement dropkicks!
Fans cheer again as Shane backs off. Shota obliges, and they tag Narita and Mikey. Mikey and Narita go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! Narita headlocks, Mikey powers out, and they RAM shoulders! They throw forearms back and forth again! Mikey headlocks, Narita powers out, and Mikey runs Narita over! Narita gets up, Mikey kicks and runs, but Narita dodges to NECKBREAKER DROP! Fans fire up and Narita stomps Mikey. Narita bumps Mikey off buckles, then tags Shota. Shota BLASTS Shane, then he and Narita double whip. DOUBLE ELBOW! SENTON, then SOMERSAULT SENTON!
The Musketeers shake hands and DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Shota stares Shane down, then goes back to stomp Mikey. Mikey ROCKS Shota, Shota UPPERCUTS Mikey! Shota then brings Mikey over, tags Narita, and they mug Mikey. Narita CLUBS Mikey, CLUBS him more, then BLASTS Shane for good measure. Shane gets back up to distract Narita, and Mikey CLUBS Narita out of the ring! Mikey eggs Shota on and distracts Red Shoes, Shane hits an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane then puts Narita in for Mikey to drop a knee! And another knee! Tag to Shane, then Mikey BLASTS Shota! TMDK double whip to DOUBLE ELBOW Narita!
SENTON FIST DROP COMBO! Cover, TWO! Narita is still in this but Shane clamps on with a chinlock. Narita endures, but Shane makes him smile using fishhooks. Red Shoes reprimands, Shane lets off to KICK Narita in the back! Fans rally up, Shane scuffs Narita, then stomps him! Shane drags Narita up, bumps him off buckles, and tags in Mikey. Shane CHOPS, Mikey CHOPS, and Narita flounders away! Mikey eggs Narita while Shane mockingly wishes Narita luck. But Narita fires forearms! Mikey CHOPS Narita down! Mikey brings Narita over, tags Shane, and TMDK mugs Narita. Shane CHOPS Narita, then kneels on him!
Narita gets the ROPEBREAK, Red Shoes reprimands and counts, and Narita lets off at 3. Shane KICKS Narita around, fans rally up, and Shota coaches Narita. Shane gives more kicks, but Narita blocks one! But Shane ROCKS him first! Shane runs, but into the WHEEL KICK! Narita and Shane are down, the fans fire up, hot tag to Shota! Shota fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses. Shota ducks ‘n ‘dodges to LARAIT! Mikey runs in, into a scoop and DROP! Shota then runs to basement dropkick Mikey out of the ring! Fans fire up with Shota and he goes after Shane. Shota whips Shane corner to corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS!
Shota reels Shane in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota keeps his cool. Shota clinches but Shane fights the lift. Shota knees low, tries again, but Shane arm-drags free then DROPKICKS! Both men are down, hot tag to Mikey! Mikey runs in to clothesline! Then a whip back to the corner, but Shota dodges this time. POP-UP KNEE! And EXPLODER! Fans fire up and Shota crawls for his corner, hot tag to Narita! Narita storms up to whip Mikey to a corner, then runs in to BACK ELBOW! HALF HATCH BRIDGE! Cover, TWO! Mikey is still in this but Narita drags him up.
Mikey fights the clinch with elbows but Narita trips him. Mikey boots Narita away, swings, but into the waistlock! Mikey fights the lift, Narita avoids the elbow but not the DDT! Both men stir, rise back up, and Mikey fireman’s carries. Narita fights free, to get a SLEEPER! Shane storms in but Narita sends Mikey into him! And back to the SLEEPER for Mikey! Shota keeps Shane down on the outside as Narita shifts to the COBRA TWIST! Mikey endures while fans fire up! Shane gets in to CLUB Narita! Shota CLUBS Shane and tosses him out, and Narita roars! Narita drags Mikey back up, clinches, but Mikey BELL CLAPS free!
Narita BOOTS Mikey, runs, but into a LARIAT! But Narita’s back up! GERMAN SUPLEX! But Mikey’s back up! Fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Both men are down, the fans rally up, and they both crawl, hot tag to Shane! Shane BLASTS Shota to cut off Narita. Shane UPPERCUTS Narita again and again, then swings, into the EXPLODER! Both men are down again and fans rally back up! Narita crawls, hot tag to Shota! Shota UPPERCUTS Shane again and again! Shane UPPERCUTS back! Shota rebounds to SHOTGUN! Shane flounders to ropes, fans rally and Shota runs in, SLINGSHOT APRON DDT!!
Fans fire up with Shota while Shane flops out of the ring! Red Shoes checks Shane but he’s somehow okay to continue. The ring count begins, Shota drags Shane up at 5 of 20, puts him in, and then aims from a corner. Shota climbs, to MISSILE DROPKICK! And then Shota goes back to the apron, slingshot and CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Shane is still in this but Shota dragon sleepers! SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO!! Shane survives again but Shota steps through to the STF! Narita catches Mikey in an COBRA TWIST! But Mikey powers out to SLAM Narita onto Shota! Mikey throws Narita out and stands Shota up.
But Shota fights off the combo move! Narita drags Mikey out while Shota drags Shane down, STF!! Shane endures, flails, reaches out, and Narita keeps Mikey out with a SLEEPER! Shota pulls on the hold but Shane fights around! Shane goes to his left but Shota pulls him back more! Shane still fights to the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets off and fans cheer. Narita is back, he and Shota coordinate. They whip Shane to a corner, then Shota runs in to ELBOW! Narita runs in to JUMP KICK! Feed to the FOREARM, BOOT, ROLLING ELBOW, BOOT and HART ATTACK!! Cover, TWO!!! Shane survives and fans fire up again!
Shota and Narita drag Shane up to try again. DOUBLE EXPLODER!! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Narita kicks Mikey and throws him out, and Shota takes aim from a corner! Shane rises, into IGNITION! Cover, TWO!! Shane survives and fans fire up as Shota still has ammo. BLAZE- NO, Shane ducks! Shota SWATS the lariat then ENZIGURIS! Shota fires up, fans fire up, and Shane staggers around! Narita and Mikey crash into railing as Shota reels Shane in, HALF NELSON BRIDGE! Cover, TWO!! Shane reloads in the corner, runs back in, BLAZE- LARIAT from Shane!! Shane hauls Shota up, to LAST RIDE POWERBOMB!! Cover, Narita breaks it!!
Mikey whips Narita to scoop, MIKEY BOMB!! Fans fire up as Mikey kicks Narita out and Shane drags Shota up. They call their shot, fireman’s carry and HIGHWAY TO HELL!! Cover, TWO?!? Shota survives and the fans fire up! TMDK is frustrated, but they still have their best shot to try! They drag Shota up, Mikey scoops and Shane again calls the shot. But Shota slips free, shoves Mikey into Shane and tosses Mikey out! TORNADO DDT for Shane! And then underhooks, but Shane wrenches out! ROUNDHOUSE! Mikey sends Narita into railing, slides back in, Shota swings on Shane! Shane ducks, sends Shota to Mikey, scoop and TANK BUSTER!!! Cover, TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Shota & Narita earn 0)
The Musketeers fall again! They’re 3-3 with time running out, is the future not here just yet?
As for TMDK, Shane gets the mic to say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, baby! That’s another one of the new generation down to TMDK. We are still here, and we are at the top, top of the pop, baby, yeah!” Fans cheer that. Shane says TMDK will be A Block winners, TMDK will be World Tag League winners, and soon TMDK will be IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! “JA MATTE NE~!” Fans cheer as Shane swings the mic and air guitars! Will nothing stop TMDK from winning it all?
Here are the NEW A Block standings!
TMDK: 5-1, 10 points
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii: 4-2, 8 points
War Dogs: 4-2, 8 points
Shota Umino & Ren Narita: 3-3, 6 points
The United Empire: 3-3, 6 points
Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
The House of Torture: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
The Gates of Agony: 1-5, 2 points [ELIMINATED]
My Thoughts:
A great round for A Block here, and we’re almost at the end! Gates are out, the House is out, Kaito & Oiwa are out, and really, only The House can play spoilers from here. Gates VS Kaito & Oiwa is next, so it doesn’t matter who wins there. The House can ruin things for Shota & Narita in the seventh round, keeping them from the semifinals on Friday. Awesome win for the Empire over the Gates, great stuff that Yano & Ishii are still in this, and we’ll see Khan & Henare VS Yano & Ishii face off to see who stays alive a little longer. TMDK being 5-1, they’re definitely in the semifinals, so I hope they make it to the finals.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Will Bishamon have to tranquilo?
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions fought to a time limit draw last round, will Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi be able to #GetBackUp this round? Or will Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. sink their ship?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS Yuto Nakashima & Oskar Leube; Yano & Ishii win.
- Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS The Gates of Agony & Boltin Oleg; The Gates of Agony & Oleg win.
- 8 Man Tag: Bullet Club War Dogs VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Master Wato, Shota Umino & Ren Narita VS TMDK; Wato, Shota & Narita win.
- 2023 World Tag League, B Block: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza; ELP & Leo win.
- 2023 World Tag League, B Block: Taichi & Yuya Uemura VS Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr; Taichi & Yuya win.
- 2023 World Tag League, B Block: Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki VS Lance Archer & Alex Zayne; Nagata & Suzuki win.
- 2023 World Tag League, B Block: Bishamon VS Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr; Bishamon wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current B Block standings.
Alex Zayne & Lance Archer: 4-0, 8 points
Taichi & Yuya Uemura: 3-1, 6 points
Atlantis Jr. y Soberano Jr: 2-1-1, 5 points
Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr: 2-2, 4 points
ELP & Hikuleo: 2-2, 4 points
Bishamon: 1-2-1, 3 points
Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza: 1-3, 2 points
Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki: 0-4, 0 points
2023 World Tag League, B Block: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado VS Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza!
The Headbanga & Young Guerilla survived the murder grandpas but are still a long way from the front of the block. Though that’s a touch better than the Bullet Club’s Rogue Army, who only just got on the board! Will the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions stay strong? Or will they end up on the bottom of the block?
Fans rally up as ELP builds up the energy to high five Leo! The teams sort out and ELP starts against the Red Commando, who mockingly builds up energy to salute the Rogue General. The bell rings, and the fans rally up while ELP swivels as he takes off his shirt. ELP and Bonza circle, tie up, and Bonza waistlocks. ELP switches, Bonza pries free to switch back and wrench to a wristlock. ELP rolls, trips Bonza, and then hooks up the legs to get Bonza in a BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Fans rally, Bonza pops free to a cover, ONE! Fans applaud as the two reset. Fans rally behind ELP but Bonza tells them to shut up. That only makes them chant harder!
ELP and Bonza reset, tie up, and Bonza headlocks. ELP throws body shots, powers out, but Bonza runs him over! Things keep moving, ELP avoids the elbow drop to hit an elbow drop, but Bonza makes it a ghost pin! TWO and ELP rolls Bonza up, TWO! ELP reels Bonza in, spins him but Bonza fights the backslide! ELP still gets the shoulders down, TWO! ELP stomps the hands! ELP knuckle locks, CHOPS, and goes up, up and jumps around, to FLYING RANA! Fans fire up and ELP handsprings to his feet. ELP CHOPS Bonza to the red corner, then CHOPS him again. Tag to Leo, and Leo hushes the crowd. But Bonza avoids the chop!
Bonza tags in Fale, and fans rally up as the big guys stare down. Leo offers a handshake, but Fale just pie faces Leo. So Leo fires forearms! Fale throws them back! ELP leads the fans in the “YAY! BOO!” as the two giants go back and forth! Leo gets the edge but Fale kicks a leg. Fale RAMS Leo, but Leo stays up! Fans rally up as they RAM again! Leo eggs Fale on, they RAM shoulders again! Leo then kicks low, and goes to scoop! But Fale’s so bulky! Leo gets Fale up!! But Bonza CHOP BLOCKS a leg and Leo falls back! Fale covers, TWO! Bonza drags Leo to the blue corner and Fale tags Bonza in. The Rogue Army mugs Leo in the corner!
Leo crawls, Bonza turns him over and keeps him from ELP. Bonza steps through, SPINNING TOEHOLD! Leo clutches the knee and Bonza talks some trash. SPINNING TOEHOLD! Bonza pie faces Leo, eggs him on, then mocks the heart hands. Leo CHOPS Bonza! Bonza kicks Leo down, stomps him around, then even springboard stomps him! Tag to Fale and Bonza rushes ELP. ELP avoids getting blasted off the apron, but Fale stays between ELP and Leo. Fale then stands on Leo as a surfboard! ELP CLUBS Fale, so Fale DECKS ELP! Fale tags Bonza, and Bonza CLUBS Leo down. Fans rally up but Bonza CLUBS Leo more.
Bonza drags Leo up, whips him to the corner, but Leo BLASTS Fale away! Leo then BOOTS Bonza, hurries for his corner, but Bonza dropkicks the legs out! Bonza snarls, backs ELP off, then he reels Leo in. Bonza finger guns and calls his shot, but Leo’s too big to bomb! Leo back drops Bonza away! Fans fire up while both men crawl, hot tag to ELP! ELP fires off on Bonza, whips him to ropes, but Bonza reverses. ELP ducks ‘n ‘dodges to CLOBBER Bonza! And kip up! Fans fire up as ELP atomic drops Bonza, then mocks his pain. Bonza swings, into another atomic drop! ELP hobbles, but he still hooks Bonza up, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP!
ELP cartwheels to the corner, goes up and takes aim, FALLING AX HANDLE! Fans rally as ELP tunes up the band. SUDDEN- NO, Bonza blocks, then DISCUS LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Bonza is frustrated but he drags ELP up and calls another shot. Bonza suplexes, holds, but ELP kicks free to DDT! Fans fire up again as Bonza and ELP crawl. ELP drags Bonza from Fale, straitjacket and torture rack, then tag to Leo. Leo BLASTS Fale, BOOTS Bonza, into the BRAIN SALAD! Leo covers, TWO! Bonza survives being scrambled but the fans rally with E-Leo-P! They coordinate, tune up, and Bonza rises. But Fale CLOBBERS Leo!
Bonza ROCKS and KNEES ELP, into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Fale runs corner to corner to SPLASH Leo! And then fireman’s carry, SAMOAN DROP to MACHO ELBOW! Cover, ELP breaks it! Fans fire up but Fale kicks ELP. Fale drags ELP up but he fires forearms and CHOPS on the Rogue Army! ELP runs, but into double shoulders! Leo rises while ELP flounders out of the ring, and the Rogue Army mugs him at the ropes. The Rogue Army double whips, but Leo breaks the line to DOUBLE LARIAT! Only Bonza falls, but Leo roars as he SPLASHES Fale in a corner! Leo scoops?! AND SLAMS!! Fans fire up with Leo as the alpha giant!
Leo drags Bonza up, choke grip, but Bonza knees free! SUDDEN DEATH! Choke grip, and ELP DIVES onto Fale! Leo hits GODSEND!! Then ELP climbs onto Leo’s shoulders for the SUPER THUNDER KISS 86!! Cover, ELP & Leo win!
Winners: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Rogue Army earns 0)
Just as Fale & Bonza were locked and loaded, they misfire and fall back down! Will they have to shift into spoiler mode in the tournament’s second half? As for the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions, do they still have an outside shot at those WTL trophies?
2023 World Tag League, B Block: Taichi & Yuya Uemura VS Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr!
The Holy Emperor & Heat Storm took a loss to Monster Sauce, but they’re still near the front of the block! But the sons of lucha libre are right behind them! Will this match go a long way to determining B Block’s finalists?
The teams sort out and Soberano starts against Yuya. The fans rally up as Soberano offers a handshake. Yuya reaches out but then Soberano leaves him hanging. The two circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Yuya waistlocks, but Soberano wrenches out to wristlock. Soberano YANKS the arm, but Yuya rolls, wrenches, hammerlocks and he brings Soberano around. Soberano rolls, drop toeholds and then has the legs tied up to go after the arms. Soberano has a modified Queen Angelito but Yuya fights up. Soberano stands on Yuya’s shoulders for a modified motorcycle stretch, to then shift to a headlock.
Fans rally as Yuya fights up but Soberano grinds the hold. Yuya pries free, but Soberano pulls hair! The ref reprimands but Soberano snapmares Yuya. Yuya gets right up and the fans applaud. Yuya and Soberano reset, circle, and feel things out. They knuckle lock, but Soberano steps on an arm and double wristlocks the other. Soberano then spins Yuya, arm-drags him, but Yuya arm-drags back! Soberano sweeps and covers, ONE! Yuya hits a headlock takeover, but Soberano headscissors, so Yuya kips free. Both men stand back up and fans applaud the standoff. Soberano offers the handshake for real and Yuya takes it.
Fans applaud the sportsmanship as the two then back down, and they tag in Taichi and Atlantis. The KOPW Champion and NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Champion RAM shoulders again and again! Then Atlantis runs to RAM Taichi! Taichi rebounds to BOOT! Atlantis rebounds to CHOP! Atlantis eggs Taichi on, so Taichi CHOPS back! Fans fire up as Taichi eggs Atlantis on, and he comes back to CHOP! Fans cheer more, and Taichi CHOPS again! Atlantis CHOPS, it’s a CHOP fight! They go back and forth faster and faster, but Taichi sputters. Atlantis eggs him on, so Taichi KICKS and KICKS!
Atlantis blocks a kick, dodges the forearm and RANAS! Fans fire up while Taichi goes to a corner. Atlantis runs in, but Taichi puts him on the apron. Atlantis counter punches then goes up top to CROSSBODY! Atlantis is right back up to run in, but Taichi BOOTS him! Atlantis returns but Taichi sends him into the corner for the GAMANGIRI! Yuya then runs in to BLAST Soberano! Fans rally up as Yuya coaches Taichi. Taichi and Atlantis rise, but Taichi brings Atlantis around to bump off buckles. Tag to Yuya and he CLUBS Atlantis down. Yuya whips Atlantis to ropes, DOUBLE CHOPS him down, then covers, TWO!
Fans rally as Yuya keeps cool. Yuya brings Atlantis around, snapmares and CLUBS him! Yuya then clamps onto an armlock and he grinds that taped shoulder down. Atlantis reaches out, but Yuya drags him from ropes to keep on that arm. Atlantis endures, Yuya floats to a cover, TWO! Yuya keeps on the arm with a double wristlock now but Atlantis continues to endure. Atlantis fights up, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! But Taichi tags in, and he CLUBS Atlantis on the back. Taichi snapmares Atlantis to KICK him in the back, and fans rally up. Taichi drags Atlantis around for Kawada Kicks, egging him on at the same time.
Atlantis stands right up to fire off forearms! Taichi kicks low and gives more Kawada Kicks! Atlantis sits up, and blocks the buzzsaw! He dodges the Ax Bomber to SUPERKICK! Both men are down and the fans rally back up! Atlantis crawls, hot tag to Soberano! Soberano goes up and CROSSBODIES Taichi down! Soberano then runs corner to corner, but into a BOOT! Taichi runs, Soberano dodges, goes up and over and dodges a boot to ENZIGURI! Fans fire up, and Yuya CLUBS Soberano. Yuya runs, but into a SOBAT! Step-up FAMOUSER! Soberano TOSSES Yuya, sidesteps Taichi, and SPIN POWERSLAMS!
Soberano sets Taichi in the middle of the ring to LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Taichi stays in this, and Soberano keeps his cool. Soberano stomps Taichi, drags him up, and fireman’s carries. Taichi fights free but Soberano kicks low again. Soberano talks some trash, runs but into a BOOT! Soberano comes back, but Taichi gest around, only for Soberano to fight the saido! Soberano whips, Taichi reverses and avoids the handspring to AX BOMBER! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Soberano and Taichi crawl for their corners, hot tag to Yuya and he stops Soberano! Yuya CHOPS but Soberano eggs him on!
Yuya CHOPS again, whips, but Soberano reverses. Yuya FLYING FOREARMS! And arm-drags! And DOUBLE CHOPS! Fans fire up with Yuya and he drags Soberano up again. Yuya whips to a corner, runs in and SPLASHES! Then BULLDOGS! Cover, TWO! Yuya looms over Soberano, stands him back up, and he traps the arms! But Soberano fights the suplex with knees! Yuya CHOPS, runs, but Soberano DROPKICKS him down! Fans fire up again as both men crawl! Yuya goes to a neutral corner, Soberano hot tags Atlantis! Atlantis runs to BLAST Taichi, then he runs to kick Yuya! Atlantis whips, Yuya reverses!
Atlantis dodges Yuya in the corner, and he SPIN POWERSLAMS! Cover, TWO! Yuya hangs in there but Atlantis stays focused. The fans rally up, Atlantis whips and Soberano joins in, TU LO SABE! Cover, Taichi breaks it! Soberano kicks Taichi out then goes out after him. Yuya goes back to a neutral corner and Atlantis storms over. Soberano dribbles Taichi off the apron as Atlantis stands Yuya up and scoops. Yuya fights free, and he CHOPS! Taichi sends Soberano into railing! Atlantis CHOPS Yuya! Yuya CHOPS Atlantis! They go CHOP for CHOP, the fans rally up, and Yuya sputters. But he dodges to waistlock!
Yuya sends Atlantis into Taichi’s RIDGEHAND! Yuya CHOPS again! Taichi SOBATS! Yuya BULLDOGS! Cover, TWO! Atlantis survives the assault and fans rally up. Yuya fires up and he climbs a corner! CROSS- NO, Atlantis moves and Yuya has to roll through! But then Soberano CROSSBODIES! Taichi storms in to kick Soberano, but Atlantis scoops to BACKBREAKER! Taichi bails back out and Soberano builds speed! FOSBURY FLOP! Direct hit and fans fire up! Atlantis scoops Yuya, MICHINOKU DRIVER! Atlantis hurries up top, FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Yuya survives and Atlantis is furious!
The fans fire up for Yuya but Atlantis refocuses. Atlantis vows to end this and he drags Yuya back up. Atlantis whips, Yuya holds ropes to BOOT back! Atlantis scoops Yuya and then gut wrenches, but Yuya RANAS free! Atlantis stands, into an arm-drag! Ghost pin, and Taichi keeps Soberano out! JUST5GUYS WIN!
Winners: Taichi & Yuya Uemura, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Atlantis & Soberano earn 0)
Taichi is so proud of Yuya! Not only did he win this for the team, he just pinned the NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Champion! Too bad he’s just outside the weight requirements to challenge for that belt. But that aside, will this help Yuya & Taichi secure a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions?
2023 World Tag League, B Block: Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki VS Lance Archer & Alex Zayne!
In a shocking twist, Blue Justice & The Meanest Man in the World are 0-4 this deep into World Tag League! But will Nagata & Suzuki finally make it work at the halfway point? Or will Monster Sauce continue their hot streak and be the only 5-0 team in the entire tournament?
Surprisingly, the Murderhawk Monster doesn’t maul Young Lions at ringside. But perhaps that is because he is saving all his energy for Suzuki. As such, he doesn’t even budge as Suzuki steps into the ring for “KAZE NI NARE~!” The former boss and subordinate stare down, so Nagata and Zayne let them start. The fans cheer as Archer brings out a Suzuki-Gun shirt! Archer then throws the shirt aside as he tells Suzuki, “Tonight, we fight. So you better bring it our I’m gonna knock your teeth out! Let’s go, Suzuki!” The bell rings and the fans fire up with Archer! Suzuki ROCKS him with a forearm already!
Suzuki eggs Archer on, and Archer grins as he comes back. Archer ROCKS Suzuki right back! Suzuki staggers, stays standing, and he also grins! Archer laughs, he and Suzuki start trading forearms! The fans fire up as the shots keep going! Suzuki gets the edge, then BOOTS! Archer wobbles but he BOOTS right back! Down goes Suzuki! Fans cheer, Suzuki stands up, and Nagata tags himself in. Zayne also tags in, and now fans rally as these two circle. They tie up, Zayne waistlocks but Nagata wrenches to a wristlock. Zayne spins, wrenches, wrangles Nagata, but Nagata kicks him away. The fans cheer as the two reset.
Nagata and Zayne tie up, Zayne headlocks, but Nagata throws body shots. Nagata powers out but Zayne runs him over! Things speed up, Zayne IMPLODER KNEE DROPS onto Nagata’s dropdown! Then he STANDING MARIPOSAS! Fans fire up and Zayne drags Nagata up. Zayne puts Nagata in a corner, tags to Archer, and he taunts Suzuki with “You Suck!” Suzuki says shut up, but Archer stomps away on Nagata. Red Shoes counts, Archer lets off and says Suzuki’s next. Suzuki says to still shut up, but Archer snapmares Nagata. Archer continues to taunt Suzuki then he CLUBS away on Nagata’s chest! Cover, TWO!
Archer is mad at Red Shoes, and Suzuki steps in just to flip Archer off. Archer tags Zayne, and scoops him to SLAM him onto Nagata! Cover, TWO! Zayne stays between Nagata and Suzuki, then bumps Nagata off buckles. Zayne ELBOWS Nagata, tags Archer, and Archer CHOPS Nagata! Nagata eggs him on so Archer CHOPS again! Even Zayne felt that one. Nagata still eggs Archer on, but Archer eggs Nagata on, so Nagata fires forearms! Archer knees low, whips Nagata to a corner, then runs in, but Nagata BOOTS him! Nagata fakes the dropkick high to dropkick low! Archer hobbles, Nagata tags in Suzuki!
Fans rally up as Suzuki fires forearms on Archer. Suzuki backs Archer down, but Archer tells him to hit harder! Suzuki fires off even more shots and he sits Archer down in a corner! Suzuki growls and the fans fire up. Suzuki knees low, whips corner to corner, then runs in to BOOT! Suzuki cravats but Archer fights the snapmare. Archer whips Suzuki to a corner, ELBOWS him, “Ichi!” Archer keeps moving to ELBOW again! “NI!” Archer keeps going, “SAN!” Hattrick achieved, and then a KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO! Archer ROCKS Suzuki, puts him on the top rope, and then lifts with the inverted crucifix!
But Suzuki fights free! Archer choke grips, but Suzuki breaks free to ROCK Archer! Archer ROCKS Suzuki! Suzuki laughs as they trade forearms back and forth again! Fans rally up, Suzuki keeps laughing, but both men ROCK the other! Fans fire up as Archer and Suzuki stand back up! They egg each other on, and the forearms fly again! They go back and forth, faster and faster! Archer wobbles, Suzuki taunts him, but then the forearms start up again! Suzuki gets the edge but Archer ROCKS him! Suzuki rises right up to ROCK Archer! Both men fall over and the fans are thunderous! Suzuki and Archer crawl, hot tags to Zayne and Nagata!
Now Zayne and Nagata trade forearms! Nagata ROCKS Zayne, KICKS him, and KICKS him! And KICKS again! Zayne ends up in a corner, Nagata fires up and whips corner to corner. BOOT! Zayne fights the clinch, suplexes, but Nagata fights that. Nagata suplexes Zayne, for MAGIC SCREW! And then an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! But into CROSSFACE! Suzuki intercepts Archer into a SLEEPER! Monster Sauce endures stereo submissions! The fans rally, Suzuki keeps adjusting his grip, but Archer fights up! Archer storms over to BOOT Nagata, then he RAMS Suzuki into buckles! Zayne gets the boost, HIP TOSS CANNONBALL!
Archer ELBOWS Nagata down, then Zayne runs in, tilt-o-whirl RANA CANNONBALL for Archer! Fans fire up as Archer gets Zayne, CHOKE SLAM SAULT! SENTON! Cover, TWO!! Nagata survives but Archer BLASTS Suzuki back down! Zayne goes up and gets as lift from Archer, but Suzuki stops the Blackout Swanton! Suzuki DECKS Zayne, Archer knees Suzuki and TOSSES him! But Suzuki gets Archer’s legs! APRON KNEEBAR! Archer endures, Nagata cradles but Zayne smothers it into his own cover, TWO!! Nagata is free again, but Zayne kicks low. Zayne straitjackets but Nagata fights free!
Zayne fires boxing elbows, back elbow, mule kick, only to run into a WHEEL KCIK! SAIDO BRIDGE! MURDER GRANDPAS WIN!!
Winners: Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Monster Sauce earns 0)
The top team finally falls, and it was to the two most grizzled and experienced men in the whole tournament! Suzuki tells Archer & Zayne to still take this thing, and they fist bump as the old Suzuki-Gun theme plays. Will Monster Sauce still burn B Block and head for those trophies?
2023 World Tag League, B Block: Bishamon VS Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr!
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi have been struggling, but they always #GetBackUp. Will they be able to #TurnItAllAround and make the threepeat a reality? Or will Gene Blast & The King of the World make the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions tranquilo?
The teams sort out and Tsuji calls out Hashi. Fans cheer as Hashi accepts, and the bell rings. Hashi and Tsuji circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Hashi headlocks and grinds the hold, but Tsuji fights up with body shots. Tsuji powers out but Hashi RAMS shoulders with him! Tsuji dares Hashi to bring it, so Hashi runs. But Tsuji follows to then RANA! Fans cheer and Tsuji smiles. Tsuji stomps Hashi, drags him up at the ropes, and CHOPS! Hashi staggers but Tsuji is on him to whip to ropes. Hashi holds ropes, Goto tags in, Bishamon double shoulder tackles Tsuji down! Hashi runs for Goto to hip toss, ZANMAI!
Zando runs in but Bishamon kicks him first. They then HAMMER away on Zando’s back! The fans fire up while Goto & Hashi flex. Zando bails out and Goto stomps Tsuji. Goto drags Tsuji up, CLUBS him, fireman’s carries, but Tsuji fights with elbows. Goto ROCKS Tsuji, runs, but Zando trips him and Tsuji basement dropkicks! Tsuji BLASTS Hashi, Zando drags Goto out to throw him into railing! Tsuji goes out after Hashi, drags him up, and we hear Zando send Goto into more railing. Tsuji whips Hashi into railing, too! Fans rally up, Zando gets a chair and he SMACKS Goto with it! It wasn’t even a folding chair, it was a spare chair from the crowd!
Red Shoes reprimands, Zando puts Goto in for Tsuji, but Red Shoes won’t count the cover with all the shenanigans. Tsuji stomps Goto, tags Zando, and they double whip Goto to POP-UP KICK! And then DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Zando covers, TWO! Hashi gets up but Zando boots him off the apron. Zando snapmares Goto into a chinlock, but he also fishhooks the mouth! Red Shoes reprimands, Zando lets off to tag Tsuji, and they set Goto up on the ropes. Fans rally but Hashi is in Tsuji’s way. Red Shoes reprimands and Hashi moves so Tsuji can run and LEAP FROG ATTACK! Goto falls and fans fire up.
Zando BLASTS Hashi, Tsuji covers Goto, TWO! Tsuji still smiles and he drags Goto up. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Tsuji knees low! Tsuji whips but Goto reverses. Goto runs in but Tsuji BOOTS him away! Tsuji runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi runs up to run Tsuji over, then he BLASTS Zando! Tsuji kicks back, whips Hashi to a corner, but Hashi returns to CHOP! Fans fire up as Hashi mule kicks then turns Tsuji, but Tsuji fights the neckbreaker. Hashi dodges the lariat to hit the BLOCKBUSTER! Fans fire up with Hashi as Tsuji goes to a corner.
Hashi runs corner to corner to clothesline, then he reels Tsuji in for the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Hashi looms over Tsuji. Hashi drags Tsuji up, reels him in, but Tsuji blocks the suplex! Hashi keeps trying, the fans rally, and Tsuji hoists Hashi up! Hashi fights that, tries again, but Tsuji slips free. Hashi elbows Tsuji, runs, but into a BOOT! Fans fire up and Goto coaches Hashi. Hashi and Tsuji both crawl, hot tag to Goto! Goto KICKS Tsuji down then BLASTS Zando! Goto drags Tsuji up, fires off forearms, then whips Tsuji corner to corner. Goto runs, blocks a boot but Tsuji DOUBLE STOMPS him down!
Tsuji calls to Zando, hurries over, and fans fire up for the hot tag! Zando storms up on Goto, but Goto fires off CHOP after CHOP! Zando winds up to CHOP back! Fans fire up while Goto is stinging. Zando BLASTS Hashi, then he and Tsuji get Goto up. They double whip, double hip toss and cradle, for a DOUBLE SLAM! Tsuji SPLASHES, Zando goes up the ropes to LIONSAULT! Zando just makes it, then covers, TWO! Fans rally up while Tsuji paces around. Zando drags Goto up, he and Tsuji hook Goto up but Hashi saves Goto from the Anchor! Hashi fires forearms, Tsuji kicks low and whips Hashi to a corner.
Tsuji sends Zando in but Hashi dodges to then LARIAT Tsuji! Zando UPPERCUTS Hashi! Goto runs in but Zando kicks and runs. But Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Fans fire up while all four men are down! Goto roars and rises, and he drags Zando up. Goto reels Zando in, dragon sleepers, but Zando drops to victory roll! TWO!! Goto escapes, hurries to a corner, and Zando runs in to clothesline! And then he undoes the wrist tape so he can run in again, and CHOP! Fans fire up and Zando says “UNO MAS!” Zando runs but Goto follows to MURAMASA! And then SAIDO! Both men are down again and the fans rally back up.
Goto crawls, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi runs to BLAST Tsuji, then he goes back for Zando. Hashi runs, but Zando BOOTS! Hashi spins through to CHOP! Zando staggers, roars, and CHOPS in return! Zando fireman’s carries, but Hashi fights free and feeds him to Goto’s forearm! Mule kick and then the clinch, GOTO GO TO HUNTER! Cover, Tsuji breaks it! Goto tosses Tsuji, and Bishamon coordinates. Goto goes up a corner, but Tsuji GAMANGIRIS him down! Zando TOSSES Hashi, and fans fire up as the amigos coordinate. Zando DIVES onto Goto, Tsuji CROSSBODIES Hashi and Young Lion Boltin Oleg!
Fans fire up as Tsuji & Zando rise! Tsuji drags Hashi up, he and Zando get him in the ring. Tsuji & Zando stand Hashi up, hook him up, ANCHOR!! Zando covers, TWO!! Hashi survives but Tsuji is already at the corner. Tsuji climbs, he stands on Zando’s shoulders, VAMOS FLOP as Hashi moves! Goto TOSSES Tsuji, and he LARIATS Zando! Zando stays up to LARIAT back! GOto drops to a knee, Zando runs again, but Goto SWATS the lariat! Goto suplexes, Zando slips free, but Goto puts him in the corner! Hashi runs in to clothesline! Tsuji runs in, but into the FIERCE FLASH! Goto clotheslines Zando, Hashi clotheslines, too!
Hashi hoists Zando up, Goto climbs, BULLDOG FLAPJACK COMBO! The fans fire up with Bishamon as they hoist Zando up and call their shot! Dragon sleeper and leg lift, SHOTO!!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!
Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Tsuji & Zando earn 0)
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions shine through as they turn the lights out on LIJ! Will Tsuji & Zando be able to stay afloat in WTL’s second half?
As for Bishamon, Hashi gets the mic first to say, “Oi, Tsuji! How was Bishamon? Was it sweet? Was it spicy? Or maybe salty?” Tsuji walks back to the ring and Hashi lets him have the mic. Tsuji says, “Now that I’ve faced Bishamon, I’ve learned… that you guys are amazing.” Fans cheer that! But Tsuji also knows Bishamon can’t stay like this. He’s sure they’ll make it back to the WTL finals. Tsuij then sends the mic back as he takes his leave, and Hashi thanks him.
Hashi continues to say that he can’t be sure if WTL can get more exciting, but if the fans aren’t already excited, then there’s no way that’ll change. But this win here gets Bishamon one step closer to that threepeat. Hashi brings up the supposed curse that keeps the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions from winning WTL. But he vows that “Gocchan and I will definitely break the curse.” Fans cheer that! Hashi continues to say that as IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Bishamon will win WTL for a third time in a row, and they’ll do it… IN A FLASH! The Fierce Warrior & Headhunter still have life, but will they have those trophies three years running?
Here are the NEW B Block standings!
Alex Zayne & Lance Archer: 4-1, 8 points
Taichi & Yuya Uemura: 4-1, 8 points
ELP & Hikuleo: 3-2, 6 points
Bishamon: 2-2-1, 5 points
Atlantis Jr. y Soberano Jr: 2-2-1, 5 points
Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr: 2-3, 4 points
Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki: 1-4, 2 points
Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza: 1-4, 2 points
My Thoughts:
Great stuff this round, and how wild that this was where Suzuki & Nagata finally get a win. Monster Sauce is still at the top but now Taichi & Yuya are within striking range to take the top spot from them. At this point, we can consider murder grandpas and Rogue Army out with even the tag team champions on the bubble. Hashi talking about breaking the curse, feels like that’s gonna be harder than it sounds. I did appreciate him snapping back at Tsuji about calling Bishamon not exciting, though. The matches Bishamon have are exciting, it’s just Hashi and Goto aren’t the most charismatic promo guys.
My Score: 8.8/10
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