Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: G1 Climax 28, parts 7 AND 8!
AXS gives us ANOTHER double dose of NJPW! It’s Days 14 and 15 as we get Naito VS Ibushi, Omega VS Ishii, Okada VS EVIL and Tanahashi VS Elgin!
This coverage of the G1 Climax 28 will be as broadcast by AXS TV.
Gifs can be found on http://frentique.tumblr.com/
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- B Block: Kenny Omega VS Tomohiro Ishii; Ishii wins.
- B Block: Tetsuya Naito VS Kota Ibushi; Ibushi wins.
- A Block: Jay White VS Togi Makabe; White wins.
- A Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Michael Elgin; Tanahashi wins.
- A Block: Kazuchika Okada VS EVIL; Okada wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for B Block!
The IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega, is on a win streak with his 12 points, keeping even his opponent, Tomohiro Ishii, out of the running. However, the Stone Pitbull won’t just roll over, because he could be a spoiler for Omega’s chances while also earning himself a title match down the line. Omega won their last battle at the 2017 G1 Special, where Omega was crowned the inaugural IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion. Will Ishii fare better in this round robin format? Or will the Best Bout Machine win his way into his third G1 Climax finals appearance in a row?
In the main event, it’s the G1 Climax 27 Champion, Tetsuya Naito, and the Golden Star, Kota Ibushi. They’re the other contenders for B Block’s spot in the finals, but Naito needs this win if he’s to overcome the loss to Omega early on. As for Ibushi, he’s been on a hot streak of his own since reuniting with the other Golden Lover. Will Ibushi spoil Naito’s chance to repeat while also seizing his own future? Or is it just Destino that Naito will Tranquilo in the finals again?
Kenny Omega VS Tomohiro Ishii!
No time to waste as this rematch of the IWGP US Championship Tournament begins. The bell rings and fans already cheer for Omega as he stares Ishii down. The two tie up, and Omega puts Ishii on the ropes. He plays around with Ishii’s bald head, but Ishii swats his hands away. Omega backs up as Ishii stares him down, then they tie up again. Ishii puts Omega against the ropes, but Omega ducks the chop to give more playful head pats. Omega gives some playful slaps, but Ishii isn’t amused. Omega chops and kicks but it doesn’t back Ishii down. He keeps trying, but nothing works. Ishii dares him to keep going, so Omega gives a forearm. Omega gets a headbutt and staggers to the ropes. Ishii runs but Omega sees him coming. Things speed up but there’s a slight miscalculation. The two back off and reset.
They tie up and Omega puts Ishii in a corner. Omega chops but Ishii barely flinches. Omega chops again then gives elbows, but Ishii only bends over. They whip corner to corner but Ishii blasts out with a shoulder. Omega narrowly avoids the silding lariat and just misses hitting V-Trigger. He pushes Ishii, then gives head slaps. Ishii swings on him but Omega gets under to then get a facelock, but it’s Ishii who suplexes Omega! Fans applaud while Omega gets to ropes. Ishii slaps Omega around now, messing up that hair. Then he chops Omega in a corner hard, and follows Omega to another. Ishii chops again, and again, dangerously close to the throat. He toys with Omega now, then bumps him off the buckle pad. Ishii gives another blunt chop, but Omega rakes his face.
Omega puts Ishii in the corner but Ishii roars out. So Omega gives him a DDT! Cover, TWO, but Omega has wrist control. Omega fireman’s carry, “You Can’t Escape!” Rolling senton and moonsault hit! Cover, TWO! Omega keeps on Ishii with a camel clutch. He grinds it side to side but Ishii endures. Ishii dares Omega to try harder, so Omega pulls back. Fans rally up for Ishii as he further endures. Ishii pries his way out of Omega’s grip, then dares Omega to go after him. Omega kicks Ishii in the back, but Ishii wants more. Omega stomps an dkicks, but Ishii just shakes his head. More kicks and stomps but it just amuses Ishii now. Ishii gets up and chops Omega! Omega chops back and it finally gets through. Omega whips but Ishii reverses, to a powerslam! It was more of a throw, but it did the job.
Ishii chops and forearms Omega in the corner again and again. He whips corner to corner but Omega reverses, only for Ishii to fire out and get a back suplex! Cover, TWO! Omega barely got out of that cover, but Ishii is on him again. Ishii powerbomb lifts, but they teeter back. Omega slips off but Ishii hits, only to run into a huricanrana! Ishii goes out while fans fire up with Omega. The Terminator drums echo and Omega rises. Omega runs and FLIES! Direct hit at the ramp! Omega gets up and puts Ishii in the ring. Fans fire up again as Omega runs and hits the Kotaro Krusher! Cover, TWO! But Omega keeps going as he drags Ishii up. But Ishii powers Omega to a corner! Ishii chops and chops, so Omega gives a sharp chop back! Ishii roars, Omega spits!
Omega gives forearms but Ishii barely flinches. Omega keeps trying but his arm is the thing getting hurt. Ishii blasts Omega with one big forearm, then finally feels some of that pain. Ishii drags Omega up and whips him corner to corner, but Omega boots him away. Omega runs out but into a waistlock, and a German Suplex into the buckles! Both men drag themselves out of the corner, but Ishii is on Omega. Ishii hoists Omega up top, then climbs up to join him. SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO! Ishii takes aim and runs, but Omega dodges to run, running DDT hits! Omega stands and vows to end this. He grabs Ishii in a full nelson, but Ishii breaks free to backwards headbutt Omega! But Omega comes back with a V-Trigger!
Omega wants the Kotaro Krusher again but Ishii slips out to German Suplex! Ishii runs, but Omega boots, only to get a discus lariat! Omega sits down and Ishii runs for the sliding lariat! Cover, TWO!! Ishii was so close and the fans can feel it. The fans are thunderous as Ishii drags Omega back up. Ishii suplexes but Omega fights out. Omega forearms Ishii, but Ishii standing switches to copy the Electric Chair! He wants to steal the One Winged Angel! Omega slips down to heel kick Ishii in the back of the head, and Ishii stumbles to a corner. Omega takes aim and runs in, V-Trigger! He hits Ishii in the back, but drags him out for bomb position. Omega lifts, Dr. Wily Bomb! Cover, TWO!! The Pitbull shocks the champion while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Omega drags Ishii back up. Omega gives him a close-range V-Trigger! But Omega isn’t done there, he gives Ishii another V-Trigger! Ishii falls over and Red Shoes checks on him. Ishii isn’t giving in, so Omega sits him up again, for a third V-Trigger! But Ishii stands up! Omega is shocked, but he gives Ishii a fourth V-Trigger. Omega runs, but Ishii follows, to clothesline him at the ropes. Ishii runs, but Omega V-Triggers! Omega runs, ducks the clothesline and gives another V-Trigger, right into the Snap Dragon Suplex! But Ishii’s right up, only for Omega to clothesline him down! Cover, TWO!! Ishii does not die easy, but Omega won’t give up.
Omega lifts Ishii for the Electric Chair, but Ishii slips down to headbutt Omega in the back! Ishii throws Omega with his own Dragon Suplex, but Omega returns with a huricanrana, that Ishii just makes a powerbomb! Both men are down and fans are thunderous again. Red Shoes checks on them both, but doesn’t start a count as he sees them both stirring. Omega and Ishii slowly sit up, and stare each other down. Ishii headbutts but Omega forearms. Ishii headbutts again, and Omega forearms again. Omega drags Ishii up for a standing forearm, then another. Ishii staggers and wobbles, but stays on his feet. Omega chops Ishii, but Ishii suddenly fires off forearms from both sides! Omega throws haymakers then the Reverse-Rana! They’re both down again, but Omega is up first.
Omega loads up and takes aim, “BANG!” He runs, for a V-Trigger! Ishii ends up on the apron, but Omega keeps on him with slingshot double stomps! Omega rests against the railings while fans build to a rally. He drags Ishii up and in, then climbs up top. Omega aims, for more double stomps! He keeps going, Aoi Shoudou! Cover, TWO!! Omega is shocked and furious as he brings Ishii up in the Electric Chair. Ishii slips out again, to an inverted suplex. Omega slips out to backslide and V-Trig– No, Ishii blocks! Omega forearms, goes for the Trigger, but Ishii throws him with a German Suplex! But Omega lands on his feet, to V-Trigger again! Cover, TWO!! Butterfly Driver!! Cover, TWO!? Ishii refuses to let even this stop him!
Omega grits his teeth while fans rally up again. He brings his knee pad down, and backs off. Omega runs back in, for an even more dangerous V-Trigger! Cover, TWO!! Omega can’t stand it as he has to drag Ishii back up. Electric Chair again, but Ishii fights out to a crucifix takedown! Cover, TWO!? Ishii can’t believe that didn’t end this. Both men crawl as fans hit a fever pitch. Ishii gets to a corner and stands. He fires himself up, but Omega covers up as Ishii throws heavy hands. Omega blocks to V-Trigger one more time, but then runs into a pop-up headbutt! Ishii gives another headbutt, then a HUGE clothesline! Cover, TWO?! Omega also refuses to go down. Ishii drags Omega up in a facelock, but Omega suplexes Ishii! Cover, ONE!!
Ishii gets to ropes again, but Omega runs, into another clothesline! Omega stands by instinct, wrenches the arm but gets a headbutt. He still gives a V-Trigger but gets an enziguri for it. Omega swings, but Ishii turns him around into a brainbuster! Cover, ISHII WINS!!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall; Ishii earns 2 points, Omega earns 0
Both men bleed from the lips, but it’s Ishii who gets a win over THE IWGP Heavyweight Champion! Ishii may not be in the G1 Climax Finals, but he now has a legitimate claim to a title match. But if it took this much for Ishii to win here, how much will it take to take that title away from Omega? As for Omega, he’ll likely need stitches for that busted lip, but are his chances of getting into the finals busted now, too?
Backstage interview with Kenny Omega.
“There it is. You guys love your underdog stories, huh? There you go. Hope your happy.” Clearly Omega isn’t happy about this blemish on his record, but there’s still time. Can he turn it around? Will he be ready for another rough rematch with the Pitbull in the future?
Tetsuya Naito VS Kota Ibushi!
Los Ingobernables de Japon’s charismatic leader defeated the Golden Star in last year’s G1 Climax round robin on his way to the finals. He looks to repeat that here, but not if Ibushi has anything to say about it. Will both Golden Lovers lose on the same day? Or will Ibushi shine bright to move up the ranks?
The bell rings and fans duel between these two mega stars. Naito and Ibushi slowly circle. They tie up quickly, and Ibushi gets a waistlock. Naito reverses to an arm wrench and a wristlock. Ibushi rolls and works to wrench it back but Naito kicks low then rakes the eyes. Naito throws forearms then whips Ibushi corner to corner. Ibushi goes up and over then speeds up. Naito dodges the clothesline and the kick to Tranquilo already. Ibushi isn’t amused, but Naito wants him to fist bump. Ibushi doesn’t so Naito bails out. Naito walks around the ring while Ibushi keeps an eye on him. Naito teases returning, but then wants Ibushi to give him space. Ibushi does while Red Shoes starts a count. Naito waits until 8 and then fires off on Ibushi. He whips Ibushi but Ibushi reverses.
Things speed up again and Ibushi dropkicks Naito down! Naito rolls out again but Ibushi slingshots out. Naito gets on the apron but Ibushi adjusts to join him. Ibushi elbows Naito, then takes aim at the apron. Naito resists the German Suplex by holding ropes then fighting with elbows. Ibushi kicks but Naito blocks to put it in the ropes, then Naito dropkicks Ibushi’s other leg out! Ibushi tumbles to the floor while Naito rests on the apron. Naito fetches Ibushi and has camera men move aside. He puts Ibushi’s leg on the railing to kick it! Fans boo but Naito doesn’t care. He stomps Ibushi, then opens the gate. Naito brings Ibushi around to the announce tables and throws him into the English table! Naito practically bowls Ibushi over Kevin Kelly!
Red Shoes counts and Naito leaves Ibushi outside. Ibushi drags himself up and hobbles his way back to the ring. He gets in at 11 but Naito is on him with stomps. Naito takes that bad leg and stomps right on the knee while smashing it on the mat. Naito repeats the knee smash stomp and Ibushi writhes in pain. Red Shoes checks on Ibushi but Naito stomps Ibushi to ropes. Naito puts Ibushi in the corner for back elbows. Naito stomps a mudhole into that bad knee, then drags Ibushi back up for more elbows. He stomps the knee again, then backs off. He drags Ibushi back up and out, turns him around, for the backbreaker and dropkick! Cover, TWO and we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Naito toys with Ibushi. Red Shoes reprimands him and fans boo him, but Naito only spits and taunts at them. Naito drags Ibushi up but Ibushi fires forearms. Naito fakes a punch to give a kick, then goes back to the leg. He spits on Ibushi before elbowing the knee. He runs and aims for the leg, but Ibushi manages to hop over his slide. Ibushi still gets a kick, but manages to double stomp Naito on the run! Both men are down as Naito writhes and Ibushi catches his breath. Fans rally up and Ibushi sits up slowly. Ibushi brings Naito up and they start brawling with forearms. Naito hits, Ibushi hits, Naito hits, Ibushi spin kicks. Ibushi whips but Naito reverses, only for Ibushi to running roundhouse Naito down! Ibushi standing moonsaults, covers, TWO!
But Ibushi keeps focus as he drags Naito back up in a waistlock. Naito resists the German Suplex and fights out, then runs at Ibushi in the corner. Ibushi puts up boots but Naito blocks them. Naito turns Ibushi around and gives him a draping neckbreaker! He keeps on Ibushi but Ibushi fights out to huricanrana! Naito rolls back out of the ring but fans rally for Ibushi. Ibushi fires up and takes aim, for the Golden Triangle Moonsault! He hits Naito down but he’s down from exhaustion. Fans cheer while Red Shoes starts a count. Ibushi gets up and hobbles after Naito. The count hits 13 as Ibushi brings Naito up, and he puts him in at 14. Ibushi climbs up, but Naito stops him! Naito positions Ibushi and elbows away at that knee. Naito climbs up to join Ibushi but Ibushi grabs Naito’s leg.
They fight each other, and Ibushi dumps Naito down. Naito stays on his feet, but Ibushi drags him back up and around. Ibushi has Naito but Naito fights out! Naito trips Ibushi and he hits the mat! Naito hops right up top, aims, and leaps for the missile dropkick! Then the jump kick, sweep and swinging dropkick! Naito drags Ibushi out for a modified Figure Four! Ibushi endures the unique kneebar, but then Naito slaps him. Ibushi slaps back and it’s a figure four slap fight. They slap back and forth but Ibushi fires off with both hands from both sides. Naito puts more torque into the hold then spits on Ibushi. Ibushi drags himself to the ropes, but Naito holds on until 3.
Naito smirks as he brings Ibushi back up. He grabs the leg but Ibushi denies the shinbreaker. Naito elbows Ibushi back, then goes for the rope-assisted tornado, but Ibushi powers out. Ibushi runs but into the atomic drop. Naito whips but Ibushi reverses, only for Naito to leap with forearms! Naito drags Ibushi back up, hammerlock and GLOR– No, Ibushi escapes Gloria to give Naito a BIG Half Nelson Suplex! The Golden Star evens things as we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Ibushi crawls over to Naito. He gives a forearm, and Naito gives one back. Ibushi goes again, but Naito elbows back. Ibushi gives yet another forearm, but so does Naito. They both stand now, and Ibushi gives another forearm. Naito hits Ibushi but Ibushi quickly kicks back. Naito forearms again, but Ibushi quickly kicks agian. Another forearm for another kick, then Ibushi fires off more kicks. Naito kicks Ibushi’s bad leg, then grabs it. Ibushi fires back with forearms but Naito spits right in his face! Fans boo and jeer but Naito just gives another forearm. Ibushi suddenly fires off a strike fest! Ibushi runs but into Naito’s wheelbarrow. But Ibushi blocks it! Naito still rolls it through and has Ibushi in the package, for the driver! But he doesn’t cover?
Naito smirks as he brings Ibushi back up for for the hammerlock and GLORIA! He still smirks as he still doesn’t cover. He drags Ibushi up again, and suplexes him to the ropes! For a draping neckbreaker! Cover, TWO!? Even Naito is surprised, but he won’t let that stop him. He drags Ibushi up but Red Shoes has him back off. Red Shoes checks on Ibushi, but somehow Ibushi is still good. Naito drags Ibushi up by his hair, wrenches the arm but Ibushi roundhouses! They both fall, and fans rally up. Ibushi drags himself to his feet as he grits his teet. Naito also stands in the opposite corner. Ibushi runs but into an alley-oop! Ibushi hits buckles and Naito enziguris him down! Naito drags Ibushi up, turns him around, but Ibushi fights off the inverted tornado to PELE!
Naito is dazed on the top rope while Ibushi fires himself up. Ibushi climbs up and positions Naito on the top rope. He tucks Naito in but Naito holds on for dear life! Ibushi gives Naito a forearm then tries again, but Naito just saves himself. They brawl now, returning to slapping strikes, then Naito goes after that bad leg. Naito stands and gets around Ibushi, for a SUPER Reverse-Rana, that Ibushi lands on his feet out of!! Ibushi clobbers Naito with a clothesline! Both men fall but fans fire up again. Ibushi crawls, blood in his mouth like Omega. He kicks Naito while he’s down in the corner. Ibushi then drags Naito up, in a waistlock, FOR A SUPER GERMAN!! Cover, TWO!!
Ibushi can’t believe it! But that just makes him more determined. He lifts Naito, for the Last Ride Sit-Out! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi is shocked again, but he stands back up. He drags Naito up as fans duel. Ibushi has the hands, but Naito dodges to DESTIN– No! Ibushi blocked the DDT and has hand control again. But Naito dodges Kamigoye a second time to tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!? Now Naito is shocked, but he just wants it more. He wrenches, tilt-o-whirl, but into Ibushi’s brainbuster! Fans fire up as Ibushi copies the King of Strong Style for a KINSHASA!! Cover, TWO!? Ibushi is all fired up, KAMIGOYE!! Cover, IBUSHI WINS!!
Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall; Ibushi earns 2 points, Naito earns 0
The Golden Star overcomes and gets himself a total of 10 points! He’s up near the top, and just needs another win to earn his spot in the finals. Naito is taken away and Ibushi takes up a mic.
Fans chant “Ibushi! Ibushi!” as he catches his breath. “This is my first time on the mic in Osaka.” He makes a promise to everyone right now. He vows to win the G1 and return here as champion. Ibushi thanks the fans for his support as he has only two matches left in the round robin. However, one of those is going to be his best friend and fellow Golden Lover, Kenny Omega! That one match could determine the entire course of the Finals, who will seize their future with their own two hands?!
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for A Block!
The race is one to determine A Block’s G1 Climax 28 finalist! Kazuchika Okada finds himself in a complete 180 from last year, as the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion is now coming back from a shocking losing streak. The King of Darkness defeated Okada last year to deny him a spot in the finals, but will history repeat itself? Or is the Rainmaker’s Redemption going to continue?
But before that, The Ace and the Unbreakable battle in an all Taguchi Japan match. Will Big Mike spoil the chances of another finals for Tanahashi? Or will the Once in a Century Talent prove that name right and overcome?
And what of the other contender, The Switchblade, Jay White? Will he lose to leave it between Okada and Tanahashi? Or will the Unchained Togi Makabe spoil the upstart’s uprising within Chaos? We jump into that important match, right now!
Jay White VS Togi Makabe!
NJPW on AXS takes us to a point where Makabe has White down but not out. Makabe runs but White counters and ducks to chop and saido suplex! Both men are down now but White is up first. White drags Makabe up and suplexes into the twisting brainbuster. Cover, TWO, and fans applaud for Makabe’s toughness. White grows frustrated, but he keeps on Makabe with forearms. Makabe dares him to give more, so White rocks him with another. Makabe eggs White on, and now White chops Makabe. White fires off forearms, but Makabe keeps egging him on. White keeps going, then runs, but his clothesline barely makes Makabe budge. Another try but still nothing. White goes a third time, but Makabe gives a clothesline back. Makabe runs but White ducks to chop and chop and chop. White runs but Makabe knocks him over!
Fans fire up as Makabe runs, but into a complete shot! White keeps going, deadlift German Suplex! But Makabe stands with White to run him over! Both men are down again, but Makabe roars his way up. Makabe puts White in the corner and up onto the top rope. Makabe climbs up to join him, but White holds on! White fights Makabe off with elbows, and Makabe falls into the Tree of Woe. But Makabe sits up for the Spider Belly2Belly! Makabe turns around but White uses Red Shoes as a shield. White then gets Makabe with strikes and prepares the Blade Runner, but Makabe counters with a German Suplex! Makabe clotheslines White again, then covers, TWO!
Makabe drags White up and scoops to slam. He goes back to a corner, climbs up top, and leaps! His knee drop misses! White rolls all the way out, and starts searching under the ring. He brings out chairs, and puts them in the ring. Red Shoes reprimands him, but White doesn’t care. Makabe ducks the swing to give lariats, one through the chair! Makabe then threatens White with the chair, Red Shoes stops him. White shoves Makabe into Red Shoes! White scurries away while those two fall over, and gets himself that second chair. SMACK in the face! White gets the chairs out of the ring and then has Red Shoes get back in. Blade Runner! Red Shoes counts, White wins!
Winner: Jay White, by pinfall; White earns 2 points, Makabe earns 0
The Switchblade uses another sneaky tactic to keep himself spotless in the round robin. He has one more match to go, can he make it to the goal?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Michael Elgin!
The Ace has won two G1 Climaxes before, and looks for his third. The Unbreakable “Big Mike” is out of the running but doesn’t mind being spoiler, even to a fellow main unit member. Will Elgin keep Tanahashi back? Or will Tanahashi keep his chances of a finals appearance going?
The bell rings and the fans chant for Tanahashi. He and Elgin circle then tie up. Elgin powers Tanahashi back, but lets his friend out respectfully. They go again, and Tanahashi calls for a test of strength. Elgin accepts and they tie up. They go shoulder to shoulder, but even with a bad shoulder, Elgin has power enough to put Tanahashi on his knees. Tanahashi comes back and puts both arms against Elgin’s bad one, but Elgin still has such strength! Elgin backs Tanahashi to the ropes, then they break. Tanahashi puts Elgin on the ropes, and they break. Elgin lunges for a headlock and takeover but Tanahashi rolls it to his own. They stand and Elgin lifts Tanahashi to the ropes.
Elgin powers out of the headlock then runs Tanahashi over, but Tanahashi’s right back up! Elgin runs him over again and Tanahashi still springs back up, but then staggers back. Tanahashi reverses Elgin’s whip and hip tosses Elgin down, then plays the air guitar. Both men stand and Tanahashi body shots Elgin to a corner. He whips corner to corner but Elgin reverses. Elgin runs into an elbow but catches Tanahashi as he goes up and over. Tanahashi fights his way out and goes to reverse-rana, but Elgin holds on with power! Elgin swings Tanahashi for an inverted Alabama Slam! Elgin walks around Tanahashi before bringing him back up. He lifts Tanahashi for a backbreaker. Cover, TWO, but Elgin keeps on Tanahashi.
Elgin brings Tanahashi up for the scoop slam, then he goes outside to slingshot splash! Cover, TWO but barely. Elgin keeps his cool and drags Tanahashi up again. Tanahashi gives body shots but Elgin chops him back. Elgin runs but into boots. Tanahashi fires forearms but Elgin gives another chop. Elgin whips but Tanahashi hits back with flying forearms. Tanahashi drops an elbow then a sommersault senton, cover, TWO! Tanahashi chops, but Elgin is too big for the scoop. Elgin scoops, Tanahahsi slips out, and they both kick. They both catch the kicks, then argue who lets go first. They decide to do it together, and then start again. Tanahashi ducks and chops, then forearms Elgin to a corner. He whips but Elgin reverses, to then dodge the dropkick on the rebound.
Elgin deadlifts but Tanahashi counters with a dragon screw! Elgin’s leg is also taped up so it’s another target for Tanahashi. Both men slowly sit up, and Tanahashi goes after the leg again. Elgin shoves him away then catches the kick, to give Tanahashi a dragon screw! Tanahashi has his own leg problems, so that was a good move from Elgin. Elgin drags Tanahashi up but they start brawling. Elgin hits, Tanahashi hits, repeat. Tanahashi kicks then runs, but into an overhead belly2belly! Both men slowly stand but Elgin runs in for a big corner clothesline. Elgin suplexes to a Falcon Arrow, cover, TWO! The battle of tag team partners continues as we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Elgin brings Tanahashi back up. Elgin chops Tanahashi then lifts him to the top rope. Elgin climbs up but Tanahashi slips under! Tanahashi wants a high-angle German Suplex but Elgin holds on. Elgin fights Tanahashi off, then turns around. Tanahashi runs in, catches the foot, SUPER Dragon Screw! Elgin clutches his leg but Tanahashi isn’t done there. Tanahashi grabs the legs to Cloverleaf! He gets Elgin on his belly and pulls back. Elgin endures and uses his arms to drag himself forward. Tanahashi wrenches back and sits down into it, but Elgin powers back up! Elgin pushes himself off the mat and then pops Tanahashi off the hold! Tanahashi goes to the apron but skins the cat into headscissors! He drags Elgin over and down!
Tanahashi skins the cat again to return into the ring. Fans fire up as Tanahashi gets to a corner and the top rope. Elgin hurries in to stop him from jumping. Tanahashi fights Elgin off, but Elgin swing kicks Tanahashi back. Elgin climbs up and brings Tanahashi with him, for the SUPERPLEX! Tanahashi writhes from the impact, Elgin covers, TWO! Elgin feels hwo close he is, and fires himself up. Fans rally with him as he drags Tanahashi back up. Elgin prepares a powerbomb but Tanahashi grabs a leg. Elgin pries Tanahashi’s arms back for a double underhook, but Tanahashi back drops! Big Mike rolls through to high stack then deadlift, for the powerbomb! Cover, TWO! Elgin is surprised, but he grits his teeth as he works on what to do next.
Elgin drags Tanahashi back up, powerbomb lifts again, for a buckle bomb! But Tanahashi fires out for a slingblade! Cover, TWO! Crucifix! TWO! Both men are down, but they’re not done yet. Tanahashi is up first and goes after Elgin’s legs. Elgin forearms, but Tanahashi holds on, until the enziguri! German Suplex! Elgin holds on but Tanahashi fights with elbows. Elgin grabs thsoe arms, so Tanahashi blocks with a leg. He can’t tiger suplex, so Elgin swings Tanahashi out for a forearm! Elgin then powerbomb lifts, only for Tanahashi to slip out and hit the swinging neckbreaker! Slingblade!
Tanahashi is all fired up as he climbs to the top. He aims, Elgin stands, High Fly Flow crossbody! But Elgin rolls through and scoops! Tanahashi slips out and wants a full nelson. Elgin breaks free so Tanahashi changes to trapping the arms. Elgin breaks out of that, too! Tanahashi hits him with a palm strike, but Elgin comes back with a back hand! Elgin clobbers Tanahashi with a clothesline! Elgin takes off his elbow pad and prepares that wrapped but powerful arm. He has Tanahashi stand, then runs, for another big clothesline! Then a powerbomb lift, crucifix sit-out!! Cover, TWO!! Elgin can’t believe it, but Tanahashi survives. Elgin fires up again and drags Tanahashi back up. He goes for and hits another buckle bomb! Then a spin, but Tanahsahi drops off and rolls him up! Tanahashi wins!!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall; Tanahashi earns 2 points, Elgin earns 0
It was by the skin of his teeth and the seat of his pants, but Tanahashi gets the win! He keeps ahead of Jay White, but there’s still one last round in the round robin. Can The Ace get through to get back to the finals? Or will he leave room for the Switchblade to slide in?
Kazuchika Okada VS EVIL!
The Rainmaker has gone through a dry spell since losing his IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but he still has hope. However, he faces the man who denied him passage to the finals last year, right at the home stretch. Will Okada continue to climb back from defeat? Or will he find out Everything is Evil?
The bell rings and fans are behind Okada already. Okada and Evil circle then approach, and Evil kicks low. Evil puts on a headlock, but Okada works against the hold. Evil drags him back in, but Okada fights with body shots. Okada powers out, but Evil runs him over with a shoulder. Evil runs and things speed up, but Evil still gets Okada with the lariat. Cover, TWO and already a close one. Evil brings Okada up just so he can clothesline him back down. He drags Okada up again, but Okada escapes the STO. Okada European Uppercuts and catches Evil into the Air Raid neckbreaker! Both men are down but fans are rallying. Evil and Okada roll out of the ring, but Evil is the one who whips Okada. Okada reverses only for Evil to reverse back, and Okada gets the railings!
Evil drags a chair out from under the ring, then puts it around Okada’s head. He throws Okada and chair into the post! Okada falls and Red Shoes reprimands Evil for that. Red Shoes checks Okada but Okada’s okay somehow. Evil waits in the ring while Okada slowly stirs. Red Shoes holds off on the count a moment, but starts it as he sees Okada is moving. The climb counts to 10 but Okada gets in at about 13. Evil drags Okada up and wrenches the arm a couple times. He wrenches a third time, then grabs the other arm for a half surfboard. Evil pushes and Okada’s face hits the mat. Cover, TWO! Evil grows frustrated with Red Shoes, but that was the count.
Evil drags Okada up and around for a chop. Okada staggers to a corner, and Evil chops him again. Evil chops a third time, and Okada falls to the floor. Cover, TWO! Evil brings Okada into a chinlock, bending him back with a knee. Evil pulls back as hard as he can but Okada endures. Okada stands up and fights out again, then runs, but into a sidewalk slam! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Okada while Evil keeps his cool. Evil drags Okada up and turns him around, but Okada fights out. Evil kicks low then whips but Okada reverses into a DDT! Both men are down again, but Okada suddenly kips up!
Okada runs at Evil for a forearm smash, then elbow. He rallies with a whip but Evil reverses, only for Okada to come back with another elbow. Okada brings Evil up but Evil fights back. Evil runs but into the flapjack! Cover, TWO! Okada keeps his cool now, and goes to gut wrench. Evil blocks so Okada clubs and kicks him. Okada EuroUppers Evil to a corner, then gives Evil a back elbow. Okada lifts Evil but Evil kicks him first. Evil dodges a dropkick to drop the senton! LIJ’s King of Darkness is in control while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Evil joins Okada on the apron. Evil drags Okada up, but Okada fights back with body shots. Evil rakes Okada’s eyes, then gives him a leaping facebuster to the railings! It was double-edged as Evil hit just as hard. Red Shoes checks on both men but they’re both okay somehow. Evil sits up first, and drags Okada up and around the corner. They go to the ramp now, and Evil fireman’s carry. Okada slips out to kick and DDT Evil on the ramp! Fans fire up as Okada rolls to his feet and gets a running start, for the John Woo dropkick! Evil is sent rolling all the way back to the ring! Okada catches his breath while Evil clutches his ribs.
Okada heads back and fetches Evil at the count of 13 to put him in the ring at 16. He aims at Evil from a corner, then runs out for another dropkick. Evil ends up in the other corner, but Okada keeps on him. Okada puts Evil in the middle to then climb up top. He aims, for a missile dropkick! But Okada isn’t done with Evil yet, he gets the fans fired up! Okada brings Evil up but Evil again blocks the gut wrench. Okada clubs Evi’s back and completes the lift, but Evil slips down. Evil shoves Okada then uses Red Shoes as a shield. He mule kicks Okada then suplex lifts him onto Red Shoe’s shoulder! Magic Killer! Everyone is down, including Red Shoes. Red Shoes rolls out to recover while Okada and Evil slowly stand.
Evil runs in at Okada, but into Okada’s boot. He tries again but gets more boots, yet still hits a corner clothesline! Evil lifts Okada for Darkness Falls! Cover, TWO!! It was close but not enough. Evil sits Okada up to slash the throat, and bring him up. Okada denies the STO but Evil kicks and roaring elbows. Okada reverses the whip but Evil holds ropes to evade the dropkick. Evil runs, but into Okada’s waistlock and wristlock ripcord! Evil ducks the Rainmaker to STEAL the Rainmaker! Cover, TWO!! Okada’s own move doesn’t do it!! Fans fire up while Evil roars. Evil drags Okada up, half ‘n’ half suplex! Then with elbow pad off, Clothesline from Hell! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives again and it infuriates Evil.
Evil calls for the end, brings Okada up, and goes for STO again. Okada reverses and swings Evil out but Evil reverses to try another steal. Okada reverses, to STEAL the STO!! Cover, TWO!! Evil won’t lose to his own move, either! Both men are down again but Okada stands first. He dropkicks Evil in the back of the head, then gut wrenches to the Tombstone! But he’s not done, he swings Evil out again. Evil blocks but Okada stops the STO, only to get a left-hand lariat! Evil drags Okada up again, ST– Discus lariat from Okada! And, THE Rainmaker!! Cover, OKADA WINS!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall; Okada earns 2 points, Evil earns 0
The redemption continues! Okada redeems himself for last year’s loss, as well as for the losses earlier in the tournament. With just round left, can Okada pull off the comeback of the century? Or will Tanahashi stand in his way?
Okada speaks.
“I can’t believe it. It’s unbelievable.” After a brutal match like that, the fans won’t go home. What’s up with that, Osaka? Does it look like he won that easily? Is he that strong? Is he just that amazing? Well then he’ll go ahead and say it. “Win number six!!” And he’s a bit dizzy now. But Okada’s sure this is going smoothly. He’s so smooth. The Okada they expected has returned. But he won’t be as strong or amazing as he was before. He’ll be even more than that! He will bring NJPW with him.
“One more G1 qualifier match.” Fans know it’s against Tanahashi, and are already dueling. Okada takes note of it. Rocky Romero says Okada, too, right? But he feels bad for Tanahashi now. But too bad for Tanahashi, because Okada vows to win it all! “Are you satisfied now? Because I’d really like to sit down.” Thank you very… much! Okada takes his leave and hopes to take the G1 Climax, but what will it take just to win the block?
My Thoughts:
Another great selection for two hours of NJPW on TV. They didn’t use time to review the other matches, but that’s because they couldn’t spare time given the matches advertised. At the same time, the only matches that matter at this point are those vying for the top spots in each block. B Block was another Golden Lovers night as Omega surprisingly loses to Ishii in a great gritty match, while Ibushi toughs it out to win against Naito. I liked that Ibushi got to speak, and he was aware he doesn’t get to do it often. So in character, he keeps his speech to the point. Ibushi has Tama Tonga then Omega, those are going to be great. Naito will soon face fellow LIJ member Sanada, that should also make for great story, no matter who wins.
I was a bit surprised they fit White VS Makabe for A Block, but that match was important to see to know that White was keeping pace. Tanahashi VS Elgin and Okada VS Evil were great, and very clean compared to White’s. It was great for story that Okada and Evil each stole the other’s finisher once but couldn’t win with them. Okada wins and gets to speak, confident that even with thought it’s Tanahashi he has left, he can win. The only way White gets in over either of them is if he and Okada win, given White’s early win over Okada is the tiebreaker. Anything else and Tanahashi’s in.
My Score: 8.8/10; 8.8/10; Overall = 8.8/10
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Could this be the biggEST and strongEST SmackDown of the year?
SmackDown in Knoxville sees the returns of Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes and John Cena, along with some final Money in the Bank qualifiers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax; Naomi wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Mateo wins.
- Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar; Los Garza win.
- Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration; Zelina wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu; Andrade wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bianca Belair is here!
Knoxville fires up for their strongEST, fastEST, quickEST, toughEST, roughEST, and greatEST hometown hero as she struts out to the ring. Bianca high-fives and hugs fans along the ramp, as well as mom and dad at ringside. Bianca then grabs a mic to say, “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” The fans cheer and chant for “EST! EST!” Bianca says she loves them so much. And she couldn’t come out here without singing Rocky Top! Y’all ready? The fans cheer, and the music plays! Bianca conducts the fans as they sing for the University of Tennessee. In fact, the Lady Vols softball team is playing in the Super Regionals right now!
Bianca smiles and says this city is so special to her. Not just because it is her hometown, but because it is her safe space. She has her love and support from mom ‘n’ dad, and has all the fans who show up and show out for her. With everything Bianca’s been going through, losing at Mania, getting injured, losing tag titles and friends along the way, she just wanted to come back home to her safe space. The fans cheer, and Bianca says she came home to heal. While she’s not 100%, she is doing everything she can to get back to the ring and continue to show us why she is the EST of Tennessee and of WWE! The fans cheer that!
Bianca says with all that said, Knoxville, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! But wait, she’s interrupted by Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi says, “Oh my gosh~! Finally! B, I am so glad you finally here on SmackDown!” Bianca says now is not the time, Naomi. Naomi asks Bianca to please hear her out. It has been way too long. Not a day has gone by when Naomi doesn’t think about what happened to them. What is there to talk about? What could Naomi say? What could she want from Bianca? The fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Naomi, and Naomi says she just wants forgiveness. She is begging for it!
Naomi knows things go toff the rails, but she is here because she wants to fix it, she is trying to fix it, but she alone can’t fix it. Months have gone by, and Naomi has tried to communicate, to say the past can be the past and that they can move forward. Bianca has not responded back to Naomi once. Naomi even visited Bianca’s parent’s house! But no one would answer! WHAT?! Mom ‘n’ Dad don’t know about that, but Naomi says no one was home, so she let herself in! Naomi looked through the photo albums, the one right on the front coffee table. And in those photos, Bianca looked so happy. It reminded Naomi of how they were as tag team champions.
Bianca stops Naomi there. Naomi, Bianca will make this perfectly clear. They were best friends, but Naomi betrayed Bianca’s trust. Naomi took their friend, Jade, and threw her onto a car, then lied about it for months! Bianca said she was done with Naomi, she meant that, and if Naomi ever comes near her family again, what Naomi did to Jade will be nothing compared to what Bianca does to Naomi. The fans fire up for that! Naomi gets emotional, but then she gets mad. “Y’know, Bianca, it wouldn’t be good for you and your mama to be in a wheelchair.” The fans boo as Naomi laughs maniacally. Naomi says she’d hate if something happened to Bianca here and now!
Naomi storms up on Bianca, but then JADE makes her way out here! Naomi is even angrier now, but this Storm starts throwing hands! The fans fire up as Jade BOOTS Naomi down! Bianca and Jade look to each other, neither really saying or doing anything. Naomi runs up but Jade TOSSES her out! Jade and Bianca look to each other again, but then here comes NIA! The Irresistible Force won’t be left out of this, especially when this is the Women’s Triple Threat Qualifier for the night! This match now opens the night, who earns SmackDown’s final golden ticket to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax!
SmackDown returns, this match is already going, and Naomi POSTS Nia! Naomi stalks Jade, rains down forearms, and the fans boo. Naomi stomps to BITE Jade’s hand! Jade still fights back, so Naomi has the arms to STOMP Jade down! Naomi flexes, the fans boo, and Naomi puts Jade in a corer. Naomi runs to DROPKICK Jade in the corner! Naomi SLAPS Jade, drags her into the drop zone, then goes up, up, and twerks! HIP DROP! Naomi covers, ROPEBREAK! Naomi is annoyed but she sits Jade up to stomp a mudhole in. But Nia runs up! Naomi dodges, the HIP ATTACK hits Jade! Naomi goes to the apron to ROUNDHOUES Nia!
Naomi reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Nia flops to the floor, the fans rally for Jade, but Naomi kicks her around. Naomi goes up the corner, leaps, but Jade catches her! Jade FALL AWAY SLAMS Naomi, then kips up! Knoxville fires up with Jade and she runs up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Nia breaks it! The fans boo but Nai huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Naomi up. Nia whips Naomi, pops her up and HEADBUTTS her down! Then she SAMOAN DROPS Naomi! Nia soaks up heat, then lines the two up. Naomi grabs at Nia’s leg but Nia CLUBS her down! Nia stomps Jade for good measure, then drops a leg, brother!
Nia TOSSES Jade out, then goes up the corner. Nia SUPER LEG DROPS on Naomi!! Cover, TWO!!! Naomi survives and Nia is shocked! The fans rally while Nia stalks Naomi. Naomi clings to ropes as Nia pulls at her arm. Nia CLUBS Naomi, whips her to ropes, then SAMOAN DROP- NO, Naomi makes it a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Ghost pin, TWO!! Nia survives the sudden turnaround, Naomi sees Jade crawling in, and Naomi goes after her as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Naomi KICKS Nia while she’s down, then kicks her more. Naomi puts Nia in a corner, CHOKES her on the ropes, then clamps on with a SLEEPER! Nia THROWS Naomi away, then TOSSES her out. Nia soaks up heat, but Jade runs in and rolls Nia up! TWO! Nia stands, and she HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia looms over Jade, drags her up, but Jade fires forearms! Jade backs Nia down, then runs, and she CLOBBERS Nia outta the ring! Jade fires up and has the fans with her. Jade drags Naomi up from the apron but Naomi fires hands. Nia is back to HIP ATTACK Jade against the POST! Nia soaks up more heat, then taunts Naomi.
Naomi stands on the apron, argues with Nia, but they apparently agree to mug Jade for both their benefit. They put Jade in the corner, Naomi digs her boot in, and then Nia sends Naomi in for a SPALSH! Nia adds a SPLASH of her own! Naomi snapmares Jade, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Jade sputters and Nia taunts her. Nia and Naomi soak up the heat together, but Jade fights back! Nia HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia drags Jade up, and Naomi KICKS Jade low! They soak up more heat, talk trash on Jade, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Nia scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Naomi runs to SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, but Nia drags Naomi away!
Nia and Naomi argue again, and then Naomi rolls Nia up! ONE, and Nia grabs Naomi to shove her to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then pushes Naomi down. Nia runs to SENTON! Nia grins while Naomi sputters and the fans rally up. Jade rises to fire forearms on Nia! Then she ELBOWS Naomi in a corner! She ELBOWS Nia, but then Nia follows Jade! Jade dodges so Nia SPLASHES Naomi! Jade then SUPERKICKS! Nia wobbles, Jade SUPERKICKS again! And SPINEBUSTERS! But Naomi METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives and the fans rally up. Naomi goes up, SPLIT- LEG MOONSAULT on Nia! But Jade has Naomi in the chicken wings!
Jade brings Naomi around, JADED!! Cover, Nia CLOBBERS them both! The fans rally while all three women are down! Nia climbs a corner, Jade is after her with forearms! Naomi joins in, drags Jade back, but now they trade shots! Nia DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Cover on Jade, TWO! Cover on Naomi, TWO! Nia grows frustrated but the fans rally up again. Nia drag Naomi up, fireman’s carries, and she climbs the corner! The fans already anticipate what’s coming, SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Cover, JADE FROG SPLASHES IN!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up while all three women are down again! “This is Awesome!”
Jade rises, she clamps onto Nia, but Nia HEADBUTTs her! And HEADBUTTS Naomi! Jade BOOTS Nia down! Cover, TWO! Jade runs up on Naomi but Naomi BOOTS her! Naoim goes up top but Jade is right on her! They fight for control, but then Nia joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!! Nia double stacks her opponents, for a A-NIA-LATOR!! Naomi avoids it, Jade takes it all! Naomi ghost pins Nia, AND WINS!!
Winner: Naomi, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Nia did a lot of the damage, but it is Naomi who wins out! Will everyone in the Women’s MITB Ladder Match now have to #ProceedWithCaution?
Solo Sikoa’s crew arrives.
Solo says they will win Money in the Bank together! Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, whichever one wins MITB wins it fof the family! But then they hear R-Truth talking to… Lil’ Jimmy? Solo says Truth’s childhood hero beats him, and now he’s talking to ghosts. Truth taps Solo on the shoulder and asks if there’s something Solo wants to say. Solo says Truth is crazy touching him. JC Mateo steps up but Solo has him stand down. Truth says he wants to be honest. He’s never seen JC a day before in his life. Is this Solo’s son? He’s husky! Truth asks if he can teach Solo’s husky son a lesson in the ring. Solo says that sounds good to him.
Truth says he’ll go talk to Nick Aldis. “Boy, y’all big boneded!” Truth heads off, and Solo says don’t worry, they’ll take care of him. Let’s have fun. Fatu says keep it 100. They can have their fun, he’s got his own business to take care of. Yadada mean? The Imperial Unit against Truth, Samoan Werewolf in a qualifier, will everything go the family’s way?
Chelsea Green confronts Nick Aldis.
The Hot Mess hides behind a cardboard cutout of herself as she tells the SmackDown General Manager, “What happened on Saturday night was a deliberate-” Piper Niven has to direct Chelsea to point at Aldis, and Aldis says he can’t quite understand her from behind the cardboard mask. Piper holds the mask between Chelsea and camera, though we do get a glimpse of her fancy headgear. Chelsea repeats herself, but Aldis says she needs to be looking at him when they talk. Chelsea hides her face in shame, but she says it is still a deliberate hitjob put on by vicious Zelina Vega! Even her Secret Her-vice could not stop it!
Chelsea demands that Zelina be suspended, stripped of her title, and that Chelsea be reinstated as the champion! Chelsea, no need to be so ugly about this. Gasp! Aldis says what he means is, no suspensions, and we can talk a rematch down the road once Chelsea is medically cleared. Then he is doing nothing for what Zelina did to Chelsea?! Alba says if he won’t, then they will! Yeah, Zelina VS Alba! Tonight! Alba is a bit surprised, but Aldis says, “Chelsea knows best. Alba VS Zelina, I actually like the sound of that. I will make that official right now, if you do one thing for me. Please leave me alone.”
The Green Administration hurries away, but will Alba make sure Chelsea brand justice is served? Or will La Muneca just keep racking up the wins?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Champion, and says that MITB is around the corner. Tiff successfully cashed in her own contract to become champion, but how is she handling the pressure of knowing the same thing could happen to her? Tiff says she can’t wait to see who wins MITB. Then she can handle the pressure by being prepared. Having this title makes her the top threat to the division, but let’s be fair. She’s always been the girl everyone has been obsessed with. So whoever wins, targeting her will be a big mistake. But then in steps Naomi.
Naomi says if Tiff thought Nia was a problem, then she ain’t seen nothing yet. Naomi vows to win MITB and cash in for Tiff’s title, wherever and whenever she wants. And in case Lil’ Miss Tiffy forgot, when Naomi was fighting for a championship, Tiff stayed in Naomi’s way. Wanna know what happens when people play with Naomi? Just ask Jade. Naomi heads out, and Alexa Bliss steps in. Alexa says she wouldn’t be so worried about Naomi. Be worried about Alexa. Alexa heads out now, Tiff clutches to the title a little bit tighter, who will be trying to run the clock out on Tiffy Time?
R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
To Solo’s point, #RonCena could not make John Cena see the light at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Truth might be relapsing if he’s talking to Lil’ Jimmy again. But will Truth relapse so far that we get the R-Truth that was once United States Champion? Or will a Tour of the Islands send Truth off the deep end?
SmackDown returns and JC makes his entrance, Solo backing him up. The bell rings and Truth runs up, only for JC to RAM him into a corner! JC RAMS Truth again and again, then lets off. JC whips corner to corner hard and Truth falls in a heap! JC whips corner to corner again just as hard, and Truth falls in a heap again. Solo talks trash but the fans rally behind Truth. JC runs up but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! JC stays up, so Truth runs and SHOULDER TACKLES! “What’s Up?” Truth runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SHOULDER TACKLES! Then he hits the SPIN OUT- CROSSBODY! JC then gets up to GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT!
JC smirks as he looms over Truth, and Solo says to finish this off now. JC runs to SENTON but Truth moves! Truth calls for it! “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth fireman’s carries JC, but JC is too much! Truth falls over again! Solo laughs, JC whips, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!
Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall
Truth tried to be like John Cena of old, but it just wasn’t meant to be. JC beats up on Truth more, then stands him up for Solo! But here comes BIG Jim! Jimmy has a chair, he runs JC off, but Solo stands his ground. Solo says his brother wouldn’t hit him with that chair, would he? Jimmy steps to Solo so Solo steps out, but that lets JC CLOBBER Jimmy! But then Solo has JC stand down! They’re family! Solo and JC leave, leaving Jimmy wondering what this is about. Will Jimmy make it clear to Solo that Jimmy’s not the one who has to come to his senses?
The Street Profits are here!
The WWE Tag Team Champions walk through the smoke to be on stage and the fans cheer. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford hold up the titles, walk to the ring, then step inside. The fans cheer as they hold up the belts again, then the Profits grab the mics. Ford says, “Knoxville, Tennessee, oh I love everything about you, and what I have, too. But lemme rap to y’all real fast. This tag team division that we’re a part of, the greatest tag team division on any brand, any promotion… It’s on fire right now.” Dawkins says, “Talk to ’em.” Ford says, “But just like how the gorilla fears us, make no mistake about it, let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now: The Street Profits.”
The fans cheer, and Dawkins says hey, they got all the teams coming at ’em! DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and now… The Wyatts?! The fans cheer that, and Ford says that’s sick. But what big bro is saying, it don’t matter who it is, the Profits will defend against anybody. Well hold on, here comes Fraxiom! Nathan Frazer & Axiom go to the ring to stand with the Profits, and they have mics. Frazer says alright, since the Profits are talking about defending the titles, well, Frazer & Axiom didn’t exactly get a fair shake. Ford says, “Fraxiom, is it?” He congratulates them for being on a roll, but up until the Wyatt Sick6 got in the Profits’ business…
Yeah, the Profits had them beat. Wow, oh, okay. Sure, maybe… But maybe not. Thanks to the Wyatts, we’ll never know. And now that those shenanigans are behind us, it is fair to say that Fraxiom and the Profits need to run it back! The fans like the sound of that! But wait, here come the Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin have mics, and Shelley says okay, hold on, sorry to interrupt. Fraxiom’s entire basis for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. Well, last time Shelley checked, the Profits never beat MCMG! So if they’re handing out title matches, MCMG will take one. But naturally, here comes DIY!
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae have their own mics, and the Poison Pixie says no no no no. She is pretty sure “you losers” have had a million chances, and “the nerds” just got here. Whoa, hold on? Just got here? Sounds like Candice just got back, so she should do us a favor and shut up. Gargano says you shut up, idiot! The reason DIY brought in Gargano’s beautiful wife is to even the odds against all of what this is! Everyone can see there is a conspiracy in the tag team division to hold down the BTTITW! And now with the Wyatts showing up- Ciampa has Gargano ixnay on the amily-fay.
Do not talk about you know who, scratch that, let’s get to business. All these teams have all KILLED the tag division that DIY built! Matter of fact, let us hold a moment of silence for the death of the SmackDown Tag Division. Everyone, stand up, bow your heads, and give a moment of silence… now. OH NO! The lights go out! All the teams panic, because when the lights turn on, UNCLE HOWDY is on the corner! Howdy laughs, because the rest of the Wyatts flank the ring! Erick Rowan drags MCMG out to DOUBLE LARIAT! Dexter Lumis is up top to CANNONBALL onto the Profits and Gargano! Joe Gacy is in, and he handsprings to bring Fraxiom to the UPSIDE-DOWN!!
Lumis then runs, POWERBOMB SENTON COMBO on Axiom! Ciampa freaks out, turns around, and Nikki Cross is there! CROSSBODY onto Candice! The fans fire up, and Howdy has Frazer for SISTER ABIGAIL! “We’re here!!” It is just as the Profits said, and now it is clear. Will some killer combination of the Wyatts go right after the gold?
Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar!
Worlds Collide is just over a week away, and all four of these men will be involved. The Immortal Firebird and the Young OG are going after the NXT North American Championship in a Fatal 4 Way while Legado Del Fantasma will be taking on AAA’s Pagano, Psycho Clown y El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Who will be heading for Los Angeles with all the momentum behind them?
Speaking of that North American Championship, the champion is here! Ethan Page joins commentary and says what a year for him, to be honest. Wade says that title has never looked better than on Ethan’s shoulder. Fenix makes his entrance now, followed by Je’Von’s. The teams sort out and Fenix starts against Angel. Angel and Fenix circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Angel fires a forearm, Fenix fires back, repeat! Fenix gets the edge but Angel shoves then drops down. Fenix cartwheels over the dropdown, then comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Angel tumbles, the fans fire up, and Fenix somersaults, but into a fireman’s carry!
Fenix slips free, ripcords to ROUNDHOUSE, but Angel HEADBUTTS! Both men stagger back, tags to Berto and Je’Von! Je’Von dodges and springboards to BOUNCY~ roll-up! TWO, and Berto mule kicks! Berto CLUBS Je’Von, whips, but Je’Von reverses and slips around. Berto bucks the O’Conner, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Berto drags Je’Von up, but Je’Von kicks! Berto blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! Je’Von runs up, and BOUNCY~ RANAS! The fans fire up and Je’Von DROPKICKS! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but Je’Von goes Matrix to dodge! Je’Von kips up, and STUNNERS! Angel flops back and the fans fire up!
Los Garza regroups, Je’Von tags Fenix, and they build speed, but have to dodge Angel first. Fenix SOBATS, Je’Von KICKS, and both men ENZIGIRI! Berto is up top, he leaps, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix runs to basement CALF KICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this for Los Garza while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fenix drags Berto up to RAM him into the corner. Tag to Je’Von and they mug Berto. Berto fires hands back on Je’Von, but Je’Von headlocks. Berto powers up and out and Angel tags in. Berto drop toeholds Je’Von into Angel’s KNEE at the ropes! Angel TEARS OFF HIS PANTS! Angel drapes those over Je’Von before he KICKS Je’Von in the side! Angel stalks Je’Von to the corner, tags Berto, and they shove Je’Von for a double hip toss, TU LO SABE! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref defends it. Berto shoves Je’Von to ELBOW him down! Berto then DUMPS Je’Von down to be under the ropes.
Tag to Angel and Berto sits Je’Von up on the apron. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von down! Santos joins in with Los Garza as they soak up the heat, and Angel drags Je’Von back in. Angel stands Je’Von up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up behind him. Angel CLUBS away on Je’Von, mocks the clapping, and he THROWS Je’Von down. Angel KICKS Je’Von in the arm and Je’Von clutches his hand. Angel drags Je’Von to the ropes, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands. The ref counts, Angel steps off at 4, and Berto BOOTS Je’Von down. ANgel clamps onto Je’Von with an armlock and chinbar but Je’Von reaches for Fenix.
Angel keeps hold of Je’Von but Je’Von fires hands! SmackDown returns to single picture as Je’Von dodges the lariat, leaps, but Angel catches him! Angel puts Je’Von in a corner and through ropes. Angel pulls an arm and leg against the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von in the ribs! Je’Von slumps to the apron, and Angel sucker punches Fenix! Angel goes back for Je’Von but Je’Von fires body shots! Angel blocks a kick, slips around and Gory Especials! Angel walks over, tags Berto, and Berto slingshots, GARZA ESPECIAL! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Je’Von but Berto clamps onto him with a chinlock.
Je’Von endures, even as Berto traps an arm. Je’Von fights up, pries the hold open, and he arm-drags Berto! Je’Von leaps but Berto grabs a leg! Ethan laughs from commentary, but Je’Von kicks free to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Je’Von and Berto crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix rallies on Angel with forearms! Fenix then dodges a shot to springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fenix fires off KICKS on Berto, then fires up with Knoxville! Fenix uses Berto to jump up and RANA Angel! Fenix then goes corner to corner to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix fires hands, shoves Angel aside, then goes up.
Fenix springboards to QUEBRADA! Cover, Berto breaks it! Berto whips Fenix, Fenix goes Spider-Man, and Je’Von tags in! Fenix says HASTA LA VISTA, BABY! Angel is up, he pops Fenix up to KICK him! But Je’Von springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! All four men are down and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Angel and Je’Von crawl. Angel CHOPS Je’Von, Je’Von CHOPS back, and the fans “WOO~!” Angel CHOPS again, so Je’Von CHOPS again! Angel fires a forearm, Je’Von fires back, and they go around with forearm after forearm! The fans fire up, Angel CHOPS, a
nd Je’Von SUPER PUNCHES!
Je’Von runs, BOUNCY- NO, Angel makes it a SIT OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ethan is surprised and the fans rally up. Angel hoists Je’Von up top, tags Berto in, and they hoist Je’Von up even higher! But Fenix SHORYUKENS Angel down! Je’Von fires hands on Berto and SHOVES him down! Fenix climbs up to join Je’Von now, and ADIOS AMIGO DOUBLE STOMPS for Angel! Je’Von adjusts, to SUPER DUPER SWANTON onto Los Garza! Ethan says don’t get closer, keep this in the ring! He taunts both his challengers, Fenix and Je’Von stand down to put Los Garza in the ring. The fans rally up, but then Ethan CLOBBERS Fenix & Je’Von!
Ethan TOSSES Fenix over the desk! But Je’Von SUPERKICKS Ethan down! The fans fire up, Je’Von hurries in, and he dodges Angel! But Berto rolls Je’Von up, TWO!! Je’Von dodges Berto, rebound and RED DOT!! Berto is down, Angel gets up, but Je’Von DECKS him! Je’Von goes up, up, but Santos distracts the ref! Ethan SHOVES Je’Von down! The fans boo but Berto tags Angel! Los Garza hoists Je’Von up for M T Y!! Cover, Los Garza win!
Winners: Los Garza, by pinfall
All Ego grins as he screws over two of his three challengers, and now Legado is rolling towards Worlds Collide. But will these rudos get everything they deserve in LA?
The Wyatts speak.
“We won’t stop. Not until we get what’s owed.” A simple yet ominous threat, are the tag titles only the beginning?
Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration!
La Muneca held onto the WWE Women’s US Championship by smacking The Hot Mess in the face with a foot, and obviously Chelsea is not happy with it. But will Alba get payback on behalf of her fearless leader? Or will things only get uglier for the Green Regime?
The bell rings and Piper distracts Zelina so Alba can CLOBBER her! Alba fires off hands, then bumps Zelina off buckles. Alba bumps Zelina off more buckles, then more buckles! And then the fourth corner! Chelsea says Zelina should’ve never messed with her! Alba fireman’s carries but Zelina fights free. Zelina KICKS Alba, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Alba CLUBS Zelina. Alba whips, scoops, and- NO, Zelina swings through to RANA! Cover, ONE! Zelina headlocks but Alba fights up and lifts Zelina. Zelina holds on but Alba powers up and out to RUN Zelina over! The fans boo but Chelsea cheers as Alba stalks Zelina.
Alba ROCKS Zelina, whips her to ropes, but Zelina wheelbarrows and arm-drags! Zelina then runs up on Alba in the corner and rains down fists! Alba shoves Zelina away at three, but Zelina comes right back to rain down more shots! Alba stops Zelina at four now, but Zelina wants another go! Alba stops Zelina at four again, and RAMS her into the corner! The fans boo but Alba grins. Zelina BOOTS Alba, goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Alba tumbles out, Piper helps her up, and Zelina goes to the apron. Alba trips Zelina up, spins and ROCKS Zelina, then gets her up. Gory Especial, but Zelina flips through to arm-drag Alba onto ropes!
The fans fire up as Zelina dials up, but Chelsea is on the apron! The ref argues with Chelsea while Zelina redials, but Piper trips her up! The fans boo but Alba SUPERKICKS Zelina! Alba salutes to Chelsea, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Alba stands on Zelina’s hair while pulling Zelina’s arms! The ref reprimands, Alba steps off, and she drags Zelina up to suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zelina stays in this and Chelsea argues with the ref. The ref says the count is fair, so Alba clamps onto Zelina with a COBRA CLUTCH! Zelina endures, the fans rally, and Zelina fights up. Zelina fires body shots, Alba ripcords and wrenches to SUPERKICK! Zelina rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Both women fall and the fans fire up! Piper coaches Zelina, the fans rally up, and both women rise up. Alba is on Zelina and brings her to a corner, but Zelina buckle bumps Alba first!
The fans rally as Alba stalks Zelina, but Zelina bumps her off buckles again! Alba tries again, but Zelina ELBOWS Alba away. Then BOOTS her away! Zelina fires forearms on Alba, backs her down, then whips. Alba reverses but Zelina dodges to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Zelina LARIATS again! Zelina blocks a kick, ELBOWS Alba, but Alba blocks the saido. But Zelina keeps Alba from running, SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally for Zelina as she runs corner to corner, METEORA! Zelina pushes Alba out and goes up top! The fans cheer for some Latina Heat, and METEORA! Cover, TWO! Alba survives and Chelsea is relieved.
Zelina grows frustrated, but she goes back for Alba. Zelina reels Alba in, suplexes, but Alba blocks! Alba knees low, suplexes, but Zelina hits STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Alba is down, Zelina goes up, MOONSAULT FLOPS! Alba goes up now, and she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!?! Zelina survives and shocks Alba! Chelsea is upset again but Alba hurries to bring Zelina up. Alba KICKS Zelina out, and now Chelsea takes off her face mask?! She tells Piper to stand Zelina up! Piper does as told, and Chelsea takes a swing, but Zelina ducks! The face mask SMACKS Piper!! Chelsea is shocked, then furious, and then she chases after Zelina!
Zelina slips into the ring, Chelsea gets on the apron, but Zelina sends Alba at her! They almost collide, and then Zelina rolls Alba up! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
Chelsea tried so hard to screw Zelina over that she just screwed up her own team! Zelina survives again, will no one take down the Vega Administration?
The Miz pep talks Carmelo Hayes.
Melo looks good, and he just has to follow the plan. If Melo follows that plan, with no mistakes, they will win. Melo says he knows what he’s doing. Miz asks if he really does. Because Miz has taken Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for Melo. Does Melo understand? Miz gave up this chance at MITB for Melo! Miz has already done it twice! If Melo wins this match tonight, Miz will guide Melo to make sure “we are Mr. MITB.” Wait, we? Miz says, “Who do you think got you in this position?” Melo says Melo did. Melo appreciates everything Miz has done for him, from sacrificing to taking hits for him, and helping him win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
But nobody told Miz to do that. Melo will run the play exactly as Miz designed it, but what brought Melo to the dance is Melo’s talent. Melo goes out there and does it better than anybody else. Melo puts up 40 points on a bad day, because he is H1M. And Miz just needs to let Melo be H1M. They good? Miz nods, and Melo says okay, let’s do the thing. They are Melo Don’t Miz and they are Awes-H1M. Miz still nods, but he doesn’t seem genuinely happy. Will Miz let Melo be Melo? Even if that means letting H1M fail?
Giulia speaks.
“Throughout my entire career, even back when I started in Japan, I had one goal… It’s not to be ‘the best.’ Everyone says that. It’s hollow and empty. My goal is to be indisputable. You can love me or hate me, admiration or disgust, it means nothing. But I’m impossible to deny. My opponent doesn’t matter, because I only view them as an opportunity to build my legacy. Evidence you cannot refute. SmackDown, you will see. I will hit harder, move faster, think sharper, and conquer everything, just like I’ve always done. The question isn’t, ‘Who’s going to let me?” It’s, ‘Who’s going to stop me?'” She adds in Japanese, “If you can stop it, stop it.”
Will SmackDown and all of the WWE soon succumb to The Beautiful Madness?
Zelina returns backstage.
She refreshes for a second, but Giulia is there! And Giulia says she sees Zelina, but she also sees that title more. Zelina scoffs and leaves. Could Giulia be aiming for everything once she becomes Ms. Money in the Bank?
Damian Priest is here!
Knoxville cheers as The Archer of Infamy heads to the ring, victorious from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that brutal Steel Cage match. Priest grabs a mic to tell Tennessee, “Ever since I beat Drew on Saturday, it’s like I’m breathing in fresh air. Y’know, there was a time when I lived on the street, if we were beefing with another street, that war could go for years. But in WWE, you have a beef with somebody, you have a match and it’s over. But with Drew and I, we went well over a year, and that’s not normal. But we took that beef into a cage. Now, I can feel it, you can se it on my face, we went to war.
“At the end of this war, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, I gave him a Con-Chair-To, I walked out the door, and I put his ass in the past.” The fans cheer that. Priest says now he knows Drew is somewhere recovering from his scrambled brains, but he knows Drew is watching, so this is for Drew. “I still can’t stand yo ass. But the Drew McIntyre that stepped in that cage wasn’t the guy that hides behind his phone on social media. That was the old Drew, the warrior, and I appreciate that.” The fans applaud, and Priest says he won’t ask what is next for himself, he’ll just tell us all. And it is the same thing he wanted when he came to SmackDown: Championships!
The fans cheer, and Priest says this war with Drew cost him an opportunity at being in MITB. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eyes on a certain champion. Somebody who he has unfinished business with, and a champion he considers the most badass. The fans know that means Fatu, and he knows they know! Priest calls out Jacob Fatu! Priest respects Fatu. Priest knows where Fatu came from, what Fatu had to live through, how it feels to stand in this ring as a champion. Real talk, Priest is proud of Fatu, he congratulates Fatu, that’s real. But what Priest doesn’t respect is the crew that follows him around.
Wait, check that. What Priest doesn’t respect is the crew Fatu follows around. Priest knows at some point, they will get in this ring, handle business, but that’s for them. As for Fatu’s so-called family, if they wanna get involved, they can catch a fresh one, too. Priest won’t make it just a nickname or moniker, he wants this to be fact! Priest is and forever will be EL CAMPEON! The fans cheer that! But will the Archer soon take aim at the Samoan Werewolf? Well, speaking of, Fatu makes his way out here for tonight’s other Triple Threat Qualifier! Fatu nods to Priest, but if Fatu wins his way into the ladder match, will this showdown have to wait a little longer?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu!
SmackDown returns and El Idolo makes his entrance, followed by H1M. The bell rings and Miz distracts Fatu and Melo attacks! Fatu ELBOWS Melo away, Andrade is on Melo with forearms, and then Fatu adds a LARIAT! Fatu looms mover Melo but then turns to stare down Andrade. The fans rally as these two step up. Andrade fires forearms but Fatu SHOVES him to a corner. Fatu runs up, Andrade dodges then whips. Fatu reverses, Andrade goes up and out to then ROCK Fatu! Andrade goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE! Melo CLUBS Andrade, TOSSES him out, and then CLUBS away on Fatu!
Miz says that’s the way! Melo HAMMERS and CHOPS, then whips, but Fatu blocks! Fatu whips Melo, Melo springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Fatu sees Melo go outside. Fatu builds speed, but Miz trips him up! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Fatu drags Miz into the ring! Melo goes to roll Fatu up but Fatu stays up! Fatu YANKS Melo up, scoops, but Melo slips free! Melo SUPERKICKS and Miz DUMPS Fatu out! The fans boo but Melo builds speed, only for Andrade to LARIAT! The fans cheer, and now Miz sees he is in trouble. Fatu snarls, but Andrade DIVES, into a HAYMAKER!
Fatu then SUPERKICKS Miz! Fatu THROWS Miz into barriers! The fans fire up and Fatu grins. Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK against the barriers! The Samoan Werewolf has dominated three men at once and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Miz sputters and Fatu leaves him behind to go around the way. Melo is there to kick Fatu, RAM Fatu, but Fatu blocks another whip! Fatu ROCKS Melo and Melo staggers away. Fatu stalks Melo, Melo checks on Miz, but Fatu ROCKS Melo! Andrade goes after Fatu now, but Fatu THROWS Andrade into barriers! The fans cheer as Fatu lets Andrade go to the ring. Fatu brings Melo up, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him down. Fatu clears the desk off, but Melo CLUBS Fatu against the desk! Melo storms into the ring, brings Andrade up, but Andrade RAMS Melo into the corner! Andrade RAMS Melo, CHOPS Melo, then stalks Melo.
Andrade whips Melo, Melo reverses and Andrade hits buckles hard! Melo CHOPS Andrade down! Melo brings Andrade up, soaks up some heat, then makes it Latino Heat. But Andrade blocks the suplex to suplex Melo! Andrade hangs Melo out to dry, and Melo flops to the apron. Fatu is back but Andrade fires forearms first! Andrade whips, Fatu reverses, and Fatu BODY CHECKS Andrade! Fatu geeks out and the fans are with him while he stalks Andrade. Fatu drags Andrade up to HEADBUTT him into the corner. Fatu shoves Melo off the apron, then he HEADBUTTS Andrade again. Andrade sputters but Fatu is all fired up.
Fatu CHOPS Andrade, UPPERCUTS, and HEADBUTTS him again! Andrade CHOPS in return! SmackDown returns to single picture and Andrade CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fatu UPPERCUTS and Andrade falls back! Melo stomps Andrade in the corner, then tells Fatu to come on in. Fatu runs up, but Andrade gets away! Hip attack hits buckles! Melo ENZIGIRIS Fatu, Andrade runs to dodge Melo and FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Andrade kips up! Andrade has targets in the corners, and he rallies the fans with “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES for Fatu! CIEN- NO, Melo tilt-o-whirls and LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Melo runs to stomp away on Fatu, then he brings Andrade up. Fatu stands to CLOBBER Melo! Andrade SUPERKICKS Fatu! The fans rally, Melo brings Andrade up and springboards, but Andrade stops him at the ropes! SECOND ROPE SPANISH FLY! But Fatu SENTONS Andrade! The fans fire up as Fatu SENTONS Melo! Fatu drags Melo to a drop zone, then goes to the corner! The fans rally for Fatu as he goes up, up, but Andrade YANKS him down! Andrade goes up top, MOONSAULT DOUBLE!! Cover, Melo breaks it! The fans rally while all three are down! “This is Awesome!” as the three stir.
Melo brings Fatu and Andrade around, and he fires forearms on each of them. Andrade fires back on Melo, then Fatu UPPERCUTS! Andrade ROCKS Fatu, but Fatu UPPERCUTS Andrade! The fans rally as the three rise, and Melo springboards! DOUBLE FADE AWAY DDT!! Cover on Andrade, Fatu breaks it! Melo and Fatu stare down, and they run up! Melo dodges to hit the FIRST 48! Andrade adds a POISON-RANA! Melo slips around Andrade to KNEE and suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally for Fatu while Melo shakes his hands out. Andrade is on the apron but Melo rises.
Melo brings Andrade up but Andrade trips Melo! They go out to brawl, and Melo SUPERKICKS Andrade down! But Fatu SUPERKICKS Melo! The fans fire up for Fatu as he lines up a shot. Fatu gets the fans even more fired up, then he geeks out! Fatu runs in the full length, but Andrade & Melo move! HIP ATTACK through barriers!! The fans go nuts as Fatu crashes into the timekeeper’s area! Fatu sputters as SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Fatu stirs while Andrade and Melo go to the ring. They roll in, Melo grabs at Andrade and vice-versa. Melo fires a forearm, then goes back outside. Andrade goes to the opposite end while Melo looks under the ring. Melo makes Knoxville happy by bringing out a table! But then Melo makes them mad by dropping it! Melo goes after Andrade but Andrade ROCKS him first! Andrade brings out a chair! Andrade aims, but Melo dropkicks the legs out! Andrade crawls, Melo shakes his head, and he grabs the chair now. Melo aims, but Andrade kicks Melo low! Andrade and Melo go into the ring, and Andrade puts Melo in a drop zone.
Andrade goes up the corner, but Melo trips him up! Andrade is stuck up top and Melo hits the SLINGSHOT PLEX! Melo flexes, then decides to step through on the legs! Andrade cradles that, TWO! Melo and Andrade stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men fall and the fans look for Fatu. SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans rally, Melo and Andrade sit up, and Melo CHOPS! Andrade ROCKS Melo, then rolls away. Melo hurries to clamp onto Andrade with a facelock, but Andrade RAMS him into a corner! Andrade puts Melo up top but Melo fires forearms. Andrade drops back, Melo aims, but Andrade GAMANGIRIS!
The fans still want tables but Andrade climbs up to get Melo. They’re on the very top, but Fatu is back! Fatu makes the SUPER SPANISH FLY part ROCKER LAUNCHER!! The fans are thunderous as Fatu goes up now! SWANTON BOMB onto Melo! Cover, Andrade breaks it!! The fans rally up again and still want tables. Fatu runs at Andrade to SPLASH! Then Fatu runs at Melo, but Melo BOOTS him! Melo runs up, but into a pop-up! Melo fights the Samoan Drop, and Andrade adds the SHADOW ELBOW! But Melo makes it a ghost pin! Andrade adds a stack, TWO!!! Fatu survives the double cover, but here come Solo & JC!
The fans boo as Solo is here to coach Fatu up. Melo and Andrade trade forearms, then Melo dodges to springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Fatu breaks it! Fatu snarls, drags Melo up, and he HEADBUTTS Melo! Fatu finally notices Solo & JC, but Fatu puts Melo up top. Fatu CHOPS Melo, then he fireman’s carries Andrade. Fatu adds Melo to this, but Melo slips free. SAMOAN DROP for Andrade, and then Fatu goes to the corner. Solo says Fatu’s got this now! BEST MOONSAULT EVER FLOPS and Melo hits NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, ANDRADE BREAKS IT! Andrade underhooks Melo, THE MESS- NO, Melo RANAS through! Cover, TWO!!
Andrade has a cover, TWO! Melo has a cover, TWO! Andrade has it, TWO! Both men stand, SHADOW ELBOW! FIRST 48!! SHADOW ELBOW AGAIN!! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fatu crawls, Melo rolls to a corner, and Andrade stirs. Fatu rises, he brings Andrade up, IMPALER DDT! Then Fatu has Melo to RAM him into a corner. Fatu runs and HIP ATTACKS Melo! Andrade is up, Fatu hits him with another IMPALER DDT! Fatu puts Andrade in the drop zone, and he hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Solo says yeah, do that again! The fans boo but Fatu glares at Solo. JC says do what Solo is saying, Fatu!
But wait! Jimmy YANKS JC down, and SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up, and then Melo RAMS Fatu into Solo! Then FIRST 48! But Andrade rolls Melo into THE MESSAGE!! Cover, ANDRADE WINS!!
Winner: Andrade, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Solo just screwed things up for Fatu! Solo does his best to keep the peace between Fatu and JC, but the point is: Andrade is headed to Los Angeles! Will he make this El Idolo in the Bank?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton segues from congratulating Andrade for qualifying to welcoming in someone who already has qualified, but The Mega Star says, “My gawd. What is it with punching tickets around here? Everybody talks about punching tickets. WWE Instagram, punched tickets. Commentary, punched tickets. You’re talking about punched tickets. I guess I punched my ticket to MITB, it’s only eight days away. A few other guys who punched tickets, who are they? You got Andrade, you got Penta, you got what’s his name, Seth Rollins. You got Solo Sikoa! They’re all in it! They all punched their tickets!
“And everybody’s gonna be climbing that ladder, trying to get up, put everything on the line that they can. Now, if this was a one-on-one match, I’d go ahead and call my shot, and I’d say I’m gonna run up there, grab the case, and cash it in. But you gotta understand, this is my third year in a row, so I understand what this is. You can call me the vet in this match. Some people say maybe that Seth is the vet in this, but they would be wrong. For three years in a row now, you’re talking about the most robust and the most recent experience, YEAH. And what that means is now it’s anybody’s game. Anybody can come out with it, and I understand that.
“But with or without the case, what you need to understand is that the WWE title, the world title, they’re all in my future. With the way I’ve been running, at this point, they should be in my past, maybe even my present. Why don’tcha go ahead and punch that ticket? While we’re talking about-” Knight stops himself when he spots someone walking in. It’s Aleister Black! And Aleister says that win was supposed to be his. But he tells Knight, “You’re welcome, though.” The Dark Father lets the Mega Star shine, if only for now. Will LA win big in LA when we finally reach MITB?
Fatu and Solo regroup backstage.
Solo wants Fatu to listen. He was just trying to help. Fatu tells Solo to listen. For the last time, Fatu does not need his help! Fatu storms off, JC steps in, but Solo has nothing else to say. Is the Samoan Werewolf going to break away from this dysfunctional “family?”
Cody Rhodes is here!
Knoxville fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives fans along the ramp and the front row, and even signs autographs. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and he hears the fans chant his name. Cody fires the fans up more, then hears them sing, “Cody! Cody Rhooodes~! Cody! Cody Rhooodes~!” Cody says, “So, Knoxville! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that we could talk about the record crowd here this evening!” The fans cheer that, too! Cody says he loves them, too, thank you very much.
Cody says they could also talk about WrestleMania 41. The fans boo, but Cody says after WrestleMania 41, he went home, he drowned his sorrows, might’ve touched the “Tennessee Cough Syrup” a little bit, and he had a moment of doubt. He reached out to a friend. A friend who helps him prepare to wonderful audiences like this one here, or speaking to everyone at home. Cody asked him, “Was I a good champion?” The fans cheer for that, but Cody says the friend told him wasn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
The friend told him, “With everything that you faced here in the ring in front of all the fans, and with everything that you faced behind the scenes, being pulled in different directions, the waters that you had to navigate that no champion has ever had to navigate, yes, I feel that you were a good champion.” Cody says he felt good hearing that, it turned into a hopeful moment, the silver lining on a dark cloud. Cody looked back on his whole year. He thought about AJ Styles faking retirement to get the drop on him. Cody thought about his friend, Kevin Owens, sucker punching him against his bus while Cody’s family slept inside.
Cody thought about his boss, Triple H, who pushed Cody to the limit, and sees something in Cody that Cody doesn’t even see in himself. Cody even thought about The Final Boss, how he asked Cody for his soul, and the entire world wondering what that meant. As preposterous as that sounded, The Rock was 100% serious. No matter how many times Cody said no, the offer still stands. And Cody also thought about John Cena. The fans initially boo, but the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” starts up. Cody takes a moment, and then he says, “I thought about John Cena doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He forced me to make a choice, and I hesitated.
“I don’t know if John Cena is going to ‘ruin’ professional wrestling. But if he does, then I’m partially to blame. Now, I know, I’d love to say this to John Cena’s face. Not sure if he’s going to come out here right now, but if you are listening, if you are listening, Champ, I need you to know that I will never hesitate with you again!” The fans cheer that, and Cody says no matter how much Cena will tout the amount of days he has left, how much Cena will talk about what remains before he absconds with the WWE Championship and leaves all of us forever, that is NOT Cena’s expiration date! That is on the other side of Cody’s corneas, and it will burn Cena’s ass up!
The fans fire up for that, and Cody calms it down. Cody apologizes for that. This is his first night back on SmackDown, he is getting worked up. He thought so much about what he could do, what he could do for the fans. Hell, how about a surprise? The fans already “YEET! YEET! YEET!” so Cody says they’re hungry for it. Let’s yeet. Well, hold on, that’d be a very big surprise. That’d be the biggest surprise. That’d be Cody’s partner riding into battle for MITB, and hell YES he is here! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the World Heavyweight Champion, MAIN EVENT JEY USO! The fans go wild as Jey makes his way in from the pavilion!
The fans sing along with Day One Ish and bounce for that YEET! Jey makes his way down through the crowd to ringside, one verse at a time, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Jey joins Cody in the ring now, mic in hand. Cody and Jey hear the fans want an encore, so we get even more YEET! But then John Cena makes his entrance to ruin the fun! The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUUUCKS~!” even though he wears that University of Tennessee orange and white. Cena goes to the ring, towel draped over his head, then grabs a mic before he joins Cody and Jey in the ring. Cena hears the fans boo, and he says, “I’m upset, too. If it isn’t professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes!” Cena tells Cody he is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe, and that Jey is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe.
The fans boo but Cena says they both wanna be Cena so bad, it makes him sick! Cody wants Cena’s fame, Jey wants Cena’s money, but they will get neither because Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy! There is only ONE other human being in the WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty and respect, and he’s got the fortune, fame and followers to back that up! Surprise, losers! Cena’s partner is here, too! The fans boo already, because “EY YO~!” Logan Paul IS here! The Maverick swaggers his way out, and Cena gives him a proper introduction. “Oh, you mad? You’re mad because Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler?”
Cena says Logan doesn’t need to pay his dues, because he is paying Jey’s mortgage! Everybody in this building did NOT come to see Jey! They came to see John Cena and Logan Paul! Logan asks, “What the hell you crying about, Knoxville? Look! I could walk on water, and y’all would still find a way to tell me it’s because I can’t swim! John Cena speaks the language of Logan Paul, and that is the truth! The truth! It is right in front of you! You deny it all you want, but look around, you stupid, stupid, simple Tennessee people! This is a moment in history! All of you get to witness the moment that John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.
“And look, all of you will live long, pathetic, miserable lives. But at least you will get to say that you saw that.” The fans tell Logan to STFU, and Cena tells Logan to ignore it. Logan says yeah, yeah, they’re so ungrateful. They don’t know what’s good for them. There is one problem, though. This does seem too perfect. The problem is… Logan should be standing next to THE WWE Champion as THE World Heavyweight Champion! Logan should’ve been the one to leave Saturday Night’s Main Event with that title around his waist. But look at him, Jey. Jey got lucky. Jey got lucky! He knows it, Logan knows, it, the fans know it, CODY knows it!
Jey needed Cody to save him! When Cody interfered with the match cuz these two cheaters can’t do a single thing in this business without it being handed to them! “These two nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple.” Logan points to himself and says, “Self-made man!” He points to Cena and says, “Self-made man!” Five years ago, nobody every would’ve believed Logan Paul would be a WWE superstar. And they certainly never ever would’ve believed that he’d be teaming with the Greatest Of All Time! But look at Logan now. He’s not just a superstar, he is THE superstar! His time is now! Cena told us that his time is almost up!
Cena is the Last Real Champion, Logan is the inevitable face of the WWE! So Jey, Cody, at MITB, if you want some, come get some. Jey tells Logan they don’t gotta wait! They can handle this right now! UH UH, YEET!! The mics drop, Cena and Logan talk this out, and Logan wants to throw hands while Cena wants to leave. Cody asks what they’re arguing about. They gonna go to the back so Logan can polish Cena’s Peacemaker? Now it’s a fight! The fans fire up as the hands are flying! Logan TOSSES Jey, Cena picks Cody up! Cody slips free, Jey is back to SUPERKICK! Cody hits the DISASTER KICK! Cena bails out, Jey PLANCHAS out onto him!
Logan goes to the apron, slingshot and- NO, Cody dodges the “Snapshot” Lariat and Jey SUPERKICKS Logan! Then Jey sets Logan up for the CODE D!! The fans fire up as Cody picks up the WWE Championship! Will Cody and Jey make it through Logan and Cena to then clear a path for the American Nightmare’s redemption? Or will Cena & Logan ruin wrestling together?
My Thoughts:
A very good SmackDown, but maybe with some wheel-spinning. As fun as Chelsea Green continues to be, can’t we move on from her and Zelina? Or are we about to do that with tonight’s win over Alba and then Giulia confronting her? Ironically, that seems to give away Giulia isn’t winning MITB. Giulia had a good promo video right before but they undercut it by giving us that confrontation. That said, Giulia deserves to be all the champions, but I suppose starting with the Women’s US Championship would be a good route. Very good promo from Bianca and Naomi to not just have Bianca’s homecoming, but to keep the feud between them alive.
The Women’s Triple Threat had a slow start but it turned out to be a very good match. Great win for Naomi, and good promo from her, Tiffany and Alexa to tease potential MITB winners. Great stuff in the tag match to build Worlds Collide just a touch. We only got one moment of Berto being passive aggressive towards Santos, and then Ethan Page screwing the Faces over, but that was still enough for the North American Championship. Of course, it depends on how many fans watch not just Raw and SmackDown but also NXT so that the fans already understand the story. But as someone who does, I do appreciate they’re bringing NXT story onto SmackDown.
Good promo from Priest to give some shoot respect to Drew and Fatu, but Priest wanting after the US title kinda gave away what was happening with the Men’s Triple Threat. It was a great Triple Threat, but of course Solo & JC cost Fatu. That team is just one moment away from breaking up, and it might be at MITB when Solo just expects Fatu to help him win the briefcase and Fatu refuses. And Fatu VS Priest will still be awesome whenever it happens. Good promo from Knight, and a good bit from Aleister with him, which I suppose means that’s the next feud for them. Was kinda hoping for Aleister VS Nakamura but that really depends if Nakamura is sticking with WWE or going home to Japan via Pro-Wrestling NOAH as rumored.
R-Truth relapsing to talking to Lil’ Jimmy is certainly a choice. I kinda wish he’d keep up the “Ron Cena” stuff, or they’d let Jeff Cobb do his own John Cena bit from NJPW, but I guess some things in WWE still won’t change. And closing with a big promo segment was also certainly a choice. Cody still did a good job, and nice surprise to have Jey show up. Not sure they needed to take a commercial break for Jey’s entrance, especially when they were obviously going to let Jey do his YEET encore. And Cena really must be brainwashed to put Logan over as if Logan’s on par with peak Cena. But naturally a brawl happened and the Faces stood tall.
Don’t count this as go-home math yet, they could easily revisit this on Raw and even next week on SmackDown. Even then, I still feel like Jey and Cody should win at MITB to properly set up Cody VS Cena 2 at SummerSlam. Raw on June 9th is still the move for the World Heavyweight Championship, but there’s also Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, who knows if Jey makes it to SummerSlam as champion.
My Score: 8.7/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn’t, Dreamer and Delirious can’t book.
Well Trick Willie is the new TNA champ and this is the first iMPACT since his win…so let’s just hear him talk about it.
"TNA turned into TRICK-NA. Lets talk about it"@_trickwilliams #WWENXT
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/StU4pmi3oy
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Ratings:
- The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System: Rascalz win via Meteora – ***
- Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via…No Shit – Squash Garbage
- ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee: Lei wins via Spinning TKO – ** 3/4
- Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber: Mance wins via Hit the Pay Winda – Squash
- Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa: Team Robbie wins via shenanigans – **
- International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona: Maclin retains via KIA – ***
Results:
The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System
Octagon got jumped by The System earlier so Laredo is fighting alone. Another backstage jumping is getting a little dumb.
Laredo and Trey start. Typical Indie start with Simultaneous awful Dropkick spot and bad counters, AJ blind tag runs the smaller guys over, tags out to KC and the Rascalz instantly get the moment. KC is rocked, tags in Laredo and Laredo takes out the System before Lish gets on the apron and grabs Laredo. The referee kicks out Lish and Rehwoldt on commentary points out it’s a No DQ match so that’s dumb.
KC gets tossed at AJ, he catches him, Rascalz Dive and do their taunt as we go to commercial. We come back, Tennessee Whiskey into a KC tag in for the near fall on Laredo. Corner combo, Snapmare into Flip Forward Neck Breaker, KC is on a roll. AJ tags Laredo and starts talking crap to KC, they swerve and go Finger Poke of Doom, but it’s not a legal pin. Suddenly tornado attacks, System and Rascalz go for broke, AJ hits the Senton to break the eventual pin, Laredo counters AJ’s Chokeslam attempt. Trey clears out The System, Wentz sends himself and KC over and out, Laredo with a Corkscrew Moonsault, which looked cool but it’s the pile of morons waiting to get hit spot.
AJ hits the Down Payment on Laredo, but Trey blind tagged AJ. Meteora on AJ, Trey pins Laredo and Rascalz win.
Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali
Raj looks like shit in the gear he came down in…and he wrestles equivalently. I would rather anyone else comeback…give me Anarquia.
Ali murders Raj, Instant Dropkick, Rolling Neckbreaker, Corkscrew Standing Moonsault, it’s not close. Raj tries to counter things but Ali Bellclap, a little Duck the left, connect the right. Raj even does a terrible looking Punch Combo, he’s in bad shape, a bad looking Ushigoroshi, Raj with a sloppy looking something, 450 ends it.
Fire Raj as quickly as you brought him back. You don’t need a comedically pathetic job guy when the roster is like 4 guys getting pushed and everyone else sucks. Stop being stupid. Ali still hates women too.
This Injury Report is the dumbest segment in the history of wrestling. Stop treating fake shit as “serious business”.
ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee
ASH mocks karate stuff, Lei throws a few Rising Crane kicks as ASH bails and then things slow down a little. But a Pump Kick, Sliding Kick and Low Dropkick cause ASH to cower and claim her tooth broke. It’s a bait to pull Lei into the turnbuckles and them get in a few stomps. Ash keeps Lei in the corner, Suplexes her ankles into the buckles and then Ash throws a few Booty Shots/Hit Attacks then starts a grounded stretch, Lei Headscissors her down, still sells the hips and ankles, but dodges and fires, combination strikes into the 10 Count Down Strikes. T-bone Suplex, into the pinfall, for only two.
Cheapshot into Running Meteora from ASH for two. Ash goes for the Miz Yes Kicks and Lei No Sells and asks for more. Gorgeous Capture Suplex into Thunder Struck and TKO with flair. My baby has a better finish now! Yay!
Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber
Hannifan cursing and being pissed at Trick for not even showing but is more entertaining than a squash match. Not that Mance’s offense is bad, but 2 out of 3 job matches is stupid.
.@milanmiracle and @AriannaGraceWWE make history as the first father/daughter tag team in TNA!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/3s8OhtYFPv
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa
Marella tries to tie up with Robbie, but he bails and tags out to Victoria so Arianna comes in and aside from Alicia Fox’s silliness, the tie up was decent with Arianna and Victoria. Tessa interferes and the Referee throws her out. Victoria comes back in and aside from a slight miscommunication with how Arianna does her punches, Alicia Fox is making her look…pretty good. Transition moves, okay brawling and Arianna looks amazing in her outfit.
Rob and Santino distract the referee and Victoria hits a Figure Four into her Northern Lights Suplex, only for 2. Arianna finally Back Body Drop to find the tag, Santino and Rob, Santino does his split dodge into the Standing Headbutt, Arianna Cross Body onto Victoria. Rob pulls out the ref, then shoves the ref into Santino, Santino into the steps and Arianna attack but Alicia and Lish, the fix is in, Arianna eats the pin.
International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona
A few quick brawl moves, Shoulder Tackles, Strikes, Back Breakers, Cardona does get dumped out and eats a SCUD. Maclin bounces Cardona’s face off the apron and hits an Elbow off the apron to keep Cardona reeling, but a dodged tackle sends Maclin into the steps. Cardona tries to Piledriver Maclin on the ramp, but Back Drop counter, into commercial.
Formulaic commercial etiquette of Cardona still in control, throws Maclin into the ropes, Diving Shoulder Tackle lays both dudes out and they get up by 8. Fighting Spirit spot, Cardona hits ropes and gets hit by Maclin twice, Thesz Press, Ground and Pound, Back Elbow and Olympic Slam has Maclin rolling. Splash into Lariat for two. Maclin has been all gas no brakes. Cardona tries to take a few shortcuts that turns into a Straight Jacket Takedown. Cardona to the top, Maclin cuts him off, Superplex spot. 1-2-kick out!
Maclin goes topside for a Jar Headbutt, Cardona hits the ropes so Maclin crashes into the corner, 2 Reboots connect, the third gets caught, counter into Busaiku Knee, Jar Headbutt. In and out, Cardona uses the middle rope for the Low Blow, Killswitch from Cardona but Maclin kicks out. Cardona dodges and shoves Maclin towards the ref, he puts the brakes on, Radio Silence! 1-2-Kick out! Maclin catches a top rope move, Power Bomb, Corner Splash, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs, KIA and Maclin retains!
Overall Score: 4.5/10
Boring paint by numbers show, no Trick, System has one move, Robert Stone is a scumbag, too long to introduce new girls, lots of throw away segments and Rosemary sets up YET ANOTHER Monster’s Ball match. These aren’t interesting when there’s one every 3 months. So we can have terrible Monster’s Ball matches quarterly, Barbed Wire Massacre and Clockwork Orange House of Fun…BUT NO LOCKDOWN!?
Go home TNA, you’re drunk.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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