Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Hell in a Cell Results & Report! (9/16/18)
WWE plunges its best down to the depths of Hell, in a Cell! Will the Big Dog retain his title against The Monster Among Men? Or will he GET THESE HANDS!?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff Match: SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The New Day VS Rusev Day; The New Day wins and retains the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
- Hell in a Cell Match: Jeff Hardy VS Randy Orton; Orton wins.
- SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch; Lynch wins and becomes the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
- Raw Tag Team Championships: Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler VS Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose; McIntyre & Ziggler win and retain the Raw Tag Team Championships.
- WWE Championship: AJ Styles VS Samoa Joe; Styles wins and retains the WWE Championship.
- Mixed Tag Match: Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella VS The Miz & Maryse; Miz & Maryse win.
- Raw Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey w/ Natalya VS Alexa Bliss w/ Mickie James & Alicia Fox; Rousey wins and retains the Raw Women’s Championship.
- WWE Universal Championship Hell in a Cell Match: Roman Reigns VS Braun Strowman, Mick Foley as special guest referee; Called by Referee’s Decision, Roman Reigns retains the WWE Universal Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s time for the WWE Hell in a Cell Kickoff show!
Jonathan Coachman, Booker T, Peter Rosenburg and SmackDown Glampire in Chief Paige are your panel! Join them in preparing for one of the most sinister nights in the WWE calendar.
Backstage interview with Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose.
Two thirds of the Shield compete for the Raw Tag Team Championships to settle at least part of the war between them and Braun Strowman’s pack. But as far as the challengers are concerned, nothing changes even if The Shield loses. The Shield could become a completely golden faction, because they are the workhorses of Raw. Tonight, they prove it. Will the Intercontinental Champion and his Lunatic Fringe friend swipe gold away from the Show-Off and the Scottish Psycho?
Paige has breaking news!
The Hell in a Cell PPV’s main show opens WITH Hell in a Cell itself! The Viper and the Charismatic Enigma will start us off with their ultimate grudge match! What will Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy do to each other? Or rather, what won’t they do!?
Alexa Bliss is interviewed via video.
The Goddess has since heard Ronda Rousey’s words that “Even on my worst day, I’m still the best.” Her response is that Ronda has the biggest ego in the world. Ronda probably thinks she’s the best at everything, from eating breakfast to exercising to breathing. But Alexa is not intimidated, she’s taking her title back to be a six-time champion. But does her Summerslam squash change her mind? Well all her “fans” who think their opinions matter feel the same way, but this isn’t Summerslam anymore. Ronda isn’t 100%, but she’ll deny it all she wants.
Paige wonders then, how does Alexa plan on winning? Alexa says that for starters, the SmackDown GM can’t really talk about the Raw Women’s Championship. Then secondly, Ronda is hurt, and that was Alexa’s doing. It’s simple: headlines will read, “In her first title defense, Ronda Rousey fails.” And before David Otunga can say a word, Alexa leaves the interview. Will Alexa’s own ego cost her in her rematch? Or will she pounce on a wounded Ronda to get an incredible upset?
Kickoff Match: SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The New Day VS Rusev Day!
Awww~ San Antonio! Don’t you dare be sour, clap for the Five-Time champs, and feel~, the power~! The pancake producing trio of positivity bring the fun, and before the match, they say it’s “that time of year once again.” Kids are in school, the leaves are falling, and Big E loves foliage. But most importantly, it’s pumpkin spice latte season, BABYYY~! Which means ya bois are once again, for the fourth time in a row, defending their W, W, E, world tag team championships~ at Hell in a Cell! Fans like the sound of that. But this time, it’s not against just any old team, oh no~. It’s going to be against… “Who? Who?” Rusev Daaaaaay~! Fans really like the sound of that. In honor of such a holiday, here’s a little diddy.
But wait, here’s MC Artiste himself to sing a proper introduction. Though Big E, Woods and Kofi challenge him to a quick throat clearing contest. “Well let the Shakespeare of Song soothe all your ears, while these fools with their flapjacks bore you to tears~!” He insulted the pancakes!! But the New Day will cry “when the belts go home with the Brute and I”, then the new champs will be– New Day~! NO! Rusev DAAAAAAAY~! Whose day will it be when this match is over?
The belts are raised and the teams sort out. We start with English and Kofi at the bell, and they tie up. English powers Kofi to a corner, then throws body shots while fans chant “Rusev Day!” English whips corner to corner then monkey flips but Kofi lands on his feet! Kofi then leaps at English for double stomps! Cover, ONE, and English gets to his corner. Tag to Rusev and fans fire up again. Rusev and Kofi tie up, but Kofi kicks away. Rusev stops that and powers Kofi to a corner to throw in shoulders. He whips Kofi corner to corner but Kofi goes up and over. Kofi speeds things up to springboard, only to get caught! Rusev has Kofi on the ropes as he knees away at the ribs! Then Rusev throws Kofi with a Fall Away Slam! Cover, ONE!.
We go picture in picture while the Bulgarian Lion stalks and stomps Kofi. Tag to English and he adds stomps. English throws hands in the corner, then tags Rusev back in. Team Rusev Day work together on the corner back elbow and feed to the clothesline. Cover, TWO, but Rusev again keeps between Kofi and Big E. We return to single picture as Rusev barrels Kofi in a facelock. Kofi endures as he tries to find a way out. Fans rally up with “New! Day Rocks!” Kofi fights out but Rusev shoves him away. Rusev throws haymakers, then hoists Kofi up top. Rusev throws more hands, then climbs up. Kofi fights back and sends Rusev down. Kofi jumps for the DDT! Both men are down but on opposite sides of the ring. They both crawl, hot tags to English and Big E!
Big E throws English all around with belly2belly suplexes! He swivels them hips and runs, for the Big Splash! Big E rallies fans up again as he stalks English. English gets to his corner, elbows E and tags Rusev. Rusev rallies with lariats and a roundhouse! Big E gets to a corner, to get a big shoulder, and then the running heel kick! Kofi slips in but is back dropped back out! Big E gets up but gets another roundhouse! Cover, TWO! Rusev Day knows they’re close, and Rusev fires himself back up as the fans join in. Rusev stomps the mat as he stalks Big E. Machka Kick misses, but he gets Big E in a chicken wing! Big E slips out and shoves Rusev. Rusev runs but misses, English tags in. Big E SPEARS Rusev out! But then English FLIES!
English wipes E out, then puts him back in. Artiste’s DDT! Cover, TWO!! That was so close! English hurries back up, then up to the top rope. He aims, leaps, but has to bail out of his senton. He misses in the corner, Kofi tags in, and the New Day combine for a double stomp bomb! Cover, TWO!! The Drama King survives! Kofi gets up and calls for his own finish. English stands, but ducks the Trouble in Paradise to fireman’s carry. Kofi slips out but Rusev tags in, to carry Kofi all the way to ropes. Kofi manages to headscissor Rusev out of the ring, then penalty kick English from the apron. Rusev Day regroups while Kofi and Big E work together, to FLY!! Into a MACHKA KICK! Artiste’s DDT on the apron!!
Rusev drags Kofi up and in, and fans are thunderous! English tags in?! Rusev still goes up top, but misses his headbutt! English leaps but his his frog splash! TWO!! They were so close again, and Lana is about to explode at ringside. English can’t tag out to Rusev, so it’s up to him to do this. English, CRUSH! Artist’s Accolade!! Kofi endures this copied hold, but Big E runs in, to MACHKA KICK!! Kofi pops an arm out, then slings English to ropes. Rusev runs in but is sent back out. English runs into Trouble in Paradise! Big E anchors Rusev, New Day wins!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall; still SmackDown Tag Team Champions
The Brute and the Artiste were just finger tips away from the best Rusev Day ever. But now, it’s one of the worst, as The New Day win the day. Will Rusev & English ever get it right? Or will New Day continue to win day after day?
Backstage interview with Mick Foley!
The hardcore legend is being a guest referee for the Universal Championship’s Hell in a Cell Match. This is an emotional night for him, he got a chill down his spine from seeing the Cell again. Foley has had nightmares thinking back to his infamous Cell match, but that’s the past. Tonight is about Strowman VS Roman tearing each other apart. Baron Corbin comes in and welcomes Foley to the Constable’s first PPV as the boss. Corbin has Stephanie’s blessing to allow Foley to referee tonight’s title match. Foley looks the part, mostly. And he’s early! Great enthusiasm. Yes, and Foley has some pointers as a former GM. Corbin appreciates that but he’s got this. He’ll let tonight speak for itself. If that’s how Corbin wants it… Will Foley do his best as guest ref and be impartial? Will Corbin really impress with his half of tonight’s PPV?
Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.
“There is something inside us all. Something that scares us. Tortures us. And begs to be free.” Those things? “Our demons.” Greed corrupted a friendship. Envy made rivals into enemies, and a Viper target a hero. Wrath has made a Goddess and a Gladiator go to war. Pride has made a Destroyer willing to destroy a friendship. And above all, a hound of justice and a Monster Among Men want to stand atop the entire kingdom. “There is no turning back.” Surrender to your dark side and let it take over. “Welcome to Hell in a Cell.”
Hell in a Cell Match: Jeff Hardy VS Randy Orton!
The Legend Killer has transformed himself into the Eraser of Heroes, as he vows to make the WWE Universe forget all about those we’ve cheered more for than him. But the Charismatic Enigma will never let himself be forgotten nor intimidated. Will Hardy prove he’s #Immune2Fear in his most desired match type ever? Or will Orton use the three most dangerous letters in pro-wrestling to make Hardy OBSOLETE?
Both Hardy and Orton are ready to tear into each other even before the bell, as they glare at each other through the blood red chainlink fencing. Hardy takes a moment to admire the sadistic structure, as this is his first ever time in such a match. He wants to enjoy every second of it, even as he faces potential torture at the hands of his opponent. The bell rings, and we begin!
hardy rushes Orton right away and throws hands and shoulders in a corner. Orton hits back and clubs Hardy down. Orton goes to suplex but Hardy slips away, so Orton gives him a European Uppercut. Hardy tumbles to the apron and Orton hotshots him, to then blast him off into the red steel! Orton stalks Hardy and drags him up by his hair, to put him into the steel again. Hardy blocks that but Orton clubs him again. Orton tries again but Hardy still fights him off. Hardy sends Orton into steel then into LED post, then into the apron. Hardy keeps pinballing Orton around the small corridor, then goes searching under the ring. He finds a table! He has to carefully take it out inside that narrow way.
Orton grabs it from the other end and it’s a tug-o-war. They abandon the table and run at each other, but Orton runs Hardy over with a lariat! Orton drags Hardy up and into the ring, and Orton positions the table. But Hardy dropkicks it into Orton! Orton goes down with pain in his ribs, and he crawls away while Hardy recovers. Hardy and Orton go looking for more items, and while Orton finds chairs, Hardy finds a ladder! Hardy brings the ladder around, and rams Orton with it before Orton can use his chair. He keeps on Orton with that ladder, and then adjusts. But Orton SMACKS back with the chair! Orton hobbles over to grab Hardy’s hair and throw him into the steel. Orton EuroUppers Hardy up against the red frame, then goes back for the chair. He sits it up and then brings Hardy over.
Orton wants an RKO on the chair but Hardy denies him. Then Hardy uses the chair for Poetry in Motion! The attack is a bit double edged as both men bounce off steel and floor. Hardy stands and fans chant “DELETE! DELETE!” with him as he clubs Orton. Hardy clears out some space and puts Orton back in the ring. Orton staggers and Hardy kicks, but then spin kicks Orton to a corner. The Hardyac Arrest hits! Cover, TWO! Hardy positions Orton with a splash, then heads up to the top rope. Orton stops him with haymakers! Orton climbs up, prepares and hits the SUPERPLEX! But those bad ribs keep him from covering right away, TWO! Hardy narrowly survives but both men are hurting now. Fans rally up for Hardy as he gets to the other corner. Hardy drags himself up but Orton follows.
Orton runs in, but into a back elbow. Hardy goes up, Whisper in the Wind hits! Cover, TWO! The referee clears some room by getting the table out. Fans boo but Hardy goes for another ladder! Hardy props the ladder up upside-down, and brings Orton over. He clubs away on Orton’s back, to then position a suplex. Orton resists, knees low, then gordbusters Hardy into his own trap! The referee checks on Hardy, and somehow Hardy can continue. Orton puts Hardy in, covers, TWO! Orton likes that, because it means he can continue to brutalize him. Which is why he grabs another chair from under the ring. Orton aims and SMACKS Hardy on the back again!
Fans duel as some enjoy this violence. Orton SMACKS Hardy again! Orton tears Hardy’s shirt away, to SMACK bare skin with the steel! He even uses Hardy’s own studded belt to lash Hardy! Cover, TWO! Orton tears away at Hardy’s shirt while scrapping his laces on Hardy’s face. Fans rally for Hardy while Orton brings over the other ladder. Orton opens it up sideways, and puts Hardy between it.Fans anticipate what’s coming, and Orton puts Hardy throw a rung to make the ladder into a vice! Orton stomps Hardy’s limps, then covers. TWO, but that only means Orton gets to hurt Hardy more. Orton puts Hardy in a chinlock while fans rally up again. Hardy feeds off that energy to get back up, run around, and fight out of the hold. Hardy whips but Orton reverses, but Hardy rallies! Atomic drop to leg-splitting leg drop! And dropkick added, cover, TWO!
Hardy is both frustrated and sore, but he won’t stop. He calls to “DELETE! DELETE!” while Orton stands up. Hardy kicks, but Orton denies the Twist to hit the powerslam! Cover, TWO! Orton tries again, TWO! Orton keeps his cool while he goes back out. He pulls out a toolbox?! There are so many options, but he wants the screwdriver. Not since Orton’s mentor Triple H did this to Ric Flair have we seen a screwdriver used this way. But instead of going after the forehead, Orton wants the ear gauge hole!! Orton pulls on the ear lobe, twists the ear lobe 180 degrees, and then a full 360! Hardy screams, fans grow sick, but Orton seems to enjoy it. Hardy gets up, and low blows Orton! It’s all legal in the Cell, and it saves Hardy’s ear lobe.
Hardy goes back to Orton with his belt, and lashes Orton all over! Then he grabs the chair, to SMACK Orton on the back. SMACK, SMACK and SMACK! Orton is bleeding from the back as Hardy keeps attacking the cuts his belt made. Cover, TWO! Hardy has a wild look in his eyes as he climbs up top. But Orton trips him up with a bump of the ropes. Hardy rolls to an apron, but Orton drags him back up. Orton drags Hardy through the ropes, for the draping DDT! It was double edged from the damage Orton has taken to his own back. Orton stands, and he soaks in all the heat and sound from the crowd. The Viper then hears those voices in his head as he stalks Hardy again.
Orton wants to end this, and Hardy stands, but Hardy denies the RKO to hit the Twist of Fate! But Hardy won’t finish it here, he wants to use that already beat up chair. Hardy sets it on top of Orton, then climbs up top, for a SWANTON BOMB! The chair in between, cover, TWO!? Orton shocks everyone, especially Hardy, by surviving. But San Antonio knows “This is Awesome!” Hardy hurries to figure something else out while Orton now bleeds from a cut on his thigh. Hardy has a new ladder! It’s the tallest so far, but Hardy isn’t done. Hardy finds a table and brings it in.
Fans fire up as Hardy sets both ladder and table up. Hardy also adds one of the smaller ladders to the equation, so that it is shorter ladder, taller ladder, and table. Orton stands but Hardy is right on him with another Twist of Fate! Hardy puts Orton on the table and keeps him there with right hands. Fans fire up again as Hardy climbs the smaller ladder. Hardy uses that ladder to help leap up to the taller ladder, then he climbs the cell ceiling like monkey bars! He swings, but Orton gets out of the way! Only Hardy crashes through the table!! San Antonio loses their minds while the referee calls for the EMT! But Orton wants to finish this with a pin! The referee is reluctant, but counts. Orton wins!
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall
The Cell rises while Orton stands tall, but Hardy needs a stretcher. EMTs arrive and puts Hardy on the back board while everyone just tries to register what happened. The Viper won, but has he also erased the Enigma once and for all?
Backstage interview with AJ Styles!
The Phenomenal WWE Champion needs to stay focused against Samoa Joe, even after everything eh’s said about the Styles Family. Joe wants to talk about Styles’ wife, his daughter, so Styles is laser focused. Styles won’t talk, he’ll fight. He’ll walk in WWE Champion, rip Joe’s heart from his chest, then walk back out WWE Champion. Because this is still the House that AJ Styles Built! Will that be so? Or will Joe introduce Styles to his own personal Hell?
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch!
Summerslam saw a Triple Threat for this title pit friend against friend against foe, but it was the Queen who took advantage of the Lass Kicker. While Charlotte was in the right because of the rules, Becky feels she was in the wrong because of what was right. Becky is sick and tired of being in Charlotte’s shadow, but Charlotte says only Becky sees herself that way. Who will prove themselves the most deserving, and more importantly, the BEST woman of the Blue Brand?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised and the bell rings. San Antonio are behind Straight Fire Becky Lynch as she circles with Charlotte. They tie up and Becky gets a waistlock. She gets the takedown, then floats to a facelock. She holds on as Charlotte rolls both ways. Charlotte works her way back up and reverses to her own waistlock takedown. Now Charlotte holds on while Becky rolls around. Becky slips out to get the facelock back but Charlote gets a leg takedown. Becky shoves her away and fans enjoy this even exchange. The two frenemies circle, Charlotte gets another takedown, but Becky counters to a hammerlock. Becky shifts to a headlock, but Charlotte powers out. Becky runs Charlotte over, then runs. Things speed up and Charlotte gets Becky in another takedown. Charlotte goes for the Figure Four, but Becky wants to Disarm-her!
They both roll around and Becky gets a keylock. Charlotte pushes but Becky bends her back to a cover. TWO as Charlotte kips up and arm-drags. Charlotte gets the legs to tweak the knee. Charlotte goes after a simple toehold and knee wrench. Becky fights back with a chinlock and they roll again. Fans rally up while Charlotte holds onto the leg. Becky uses her free leg to kick Charlotte away, but Charlotte high stacks. TWO and Becky kicks Charlotte. Becky grabs hair to put Charlotte in a corner. She backs off at 4, but then misses to get shoulders to the stomach. Charlotte backs off but then hits buckles as Becky dodges. Becky jump kicks Charlotte down! Then apron firearms her down more! Fans fire up as Becky puts Charlotte back in. Cover, TWO, but Becky keeps her cool.
Becky wrenches the arm and wrings Charlotte out. She keeps on the arms with a hammerlock on one and a YANK of the other! Cover, TWO! Charlotte gets herself to a corner but Becky is right on her. Becky wraps an arm around a rope but backs off at 4. Becky kicks Charlotte more, then whips corner to corner. Charlotte tumbles to the apron, shoulders back in and slingshots for the high stack. TWO and Becky hits more firearms. Cover, TWO! Becky keeps on Charlotte with another keylock. Fans begin to duel while Charlotte endures. Becky thrashes Charlotte around, then leans on her for a bridging hammerlock! Charlotte endures a new kind of pain, but then Becky shifts back to a normal hammerlock. Fans continue to duel while Charlotte continues to endure.
Charlotte gets up on her feet and fights back. Becky hits back but then Charlotte denies the exploder. Charlotte scoops but Becky slips out, to walk into a Flair Chop. Becky dodges the next one to forearm Charlotte. Cover, TWO! Becky pushes Charlotte back down to then run and leg drop. She drops the elbow, then goes for the second leg, but Charlotte dodges to drop the knee. Charlotte gets to a corner and puts Becky on the apron. Becky hits Charlotte away, then hotshots the arm! But then Charlotte kicks Becky off the apron, and wrecks her with a dropkick. Charlotte fetches Becky on the outside to put her on the apron. They both stand up to start brawling. Becky kicks low then wrings Charlotte’s arm into the apron! Cover, TWO!
Becky is growing frustrated, but she won’t let up. She grabs the bad arm, wants a Disarm-her but Charlotte school girls. TWO, and Becky runs into a back suplex! Both women are down, in pain up and down the body. Fans rally up and they both stand to start brawling! Becky gives EuroUppers, but then Charlotte counters to a backslide. ONE and Charlotte fires off Flair chops! Fans echo “Woo! Woo!” with each one. Becky blocks a whip to back kick and go for the arm. Charlotte throws Becky into buckles, but then misses. Becky’s jump kick is denied this time, and Charlotte boots Becky down! Charlotte grits her teeth while Becky is gasping. Charlotte drags herself up top, moonsault flops!
Becky gets the arm, for an armbar! Charlotte turns it to a cover, but Becky makes it a triangle! Charlotte deadlifts Becky to sit-out bomb! Cover, TWO!! That was so close! Both women are down but fans are still fired up. Charlotte sits up first but Becky follows. They glare at each other and start brawling with big elbows and forearms. They brawl up to their feet, and Becky gets an edge! Becky dragon sleepers and hammerlocks, for an inverted DDT! Cover, TWO!! The Queen is tough but the Lass Kicker is not deterred. Becky flounders to ropes with San Antonio on her side. She climbs up top, but Charlotte stands. Missile dropkick, turned into a Boston Crab!
Becky endures but drags herself over, for the ropebreak! And she sends Charlotte into buckles, too! Becky walks it off, then drags Charlotte into the post. Becky returns to the ring and drags Charlotte up. Charlotte school girls, TWO, DISARM-HER! Becky has Charlotte, but Charlotte has long limbs, for the ropebreak. Becky wants to hold on, but lets go at 4. She shows no mercy as she puts Charlotte back in. Charlotte back elbows Becky, then runs, for a Spear, into a cover!! BECKY WINS!!
Winner: Becky Lynch, by pinfall; NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion
It has happened!! The Lass Kicker burns a bridge but gains the gold! She gets the better of her former best friend, and Charlotte has lost more than just a title. Or has she? Charlotte offers her former friend a chance to be her friend again, but Becky would rather hold the title than hold Charlotte’s hand. Becky leaves with her real best friend in the women’s title, but how long will she have it this time?
The New Day celebrate backstage!
The SmackDown Tag Team Champions are still ya bois, and “we all know what time it is!” Big E rings the bell, and Bootysworth comes in. The butler of positivity is back, and he presents champagne. The good stuff, too! Where did Kofi go tho? Surprise, it’s Kramer Kingsman to interview the New Days! COngrats on winning, but three questions: What’s next? What’s next? And what’s next? The New Day is going down under– Where? Underwear hahaha! Well, they’re headed to Melbourne to defend their titles against The Bar! But that’s then, this is now. Time to celebrate, with a pancake shower on Bootysworth! It’s raining flapjacks, and next, Super Show Down! Will the hot cake trio be too hot to handle down in Australia? Or will Cesaro & Sheamus end the New Day’s fifth reign in the land down under?
Raw Tag Team Championships: Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler VS Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose!
Monday Night Raw has become war all over again as The Shield and “The Pack” have been battling for supremacy. Will Rollins, Ambrose and Roman only add to their collection of titles? Or will there be a power shift beyond their control?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised and we begin with Rollins and Ziggler at the bell. Fans chant “Burn It Down!” for the Intercontinental Champion while he ties up with Ziggler. They trade wristlocks but Rollins gets a hammerlock. Ziggler pulls hair to reverse, but then Rollins gets away before Ziggler can tag McIntyre. Rollins and Ziggler go again, and they trade headlocks. Rollins gets the takedown, and holds off the headscissors. Ziggler gets the headscissors and Rollins pops out, but again Rollins gets away before Ziggler can tag McIntyre. They tie up again and Ziggler kicks low. Ziggler laughs as he scrapes Rollins’ face. Ziggler brings Rollins over but Rollins school boys and powers Ziggler to the Shield corner. Tag to Ambrose, and they work together for a sliding lariat, knee drop and elbow drop. Cover, TWO, but McIntyre is at the ready.
Tag to Rollins, and they double whip Ziggler for double elbows, and split the wishbone! ZIggler writhes while Rollins stalks him. Rollins runs but Ziggler dodges the stomp. McIntyre regroups with Ziggler near the announce desks, then they come back at the ref’s count of 3. Ziggler eggs Rollins on, but tags McIntyre in. McIntyre takes his time but Rollins is right on him. McIntyre shoves then runs Rollins over with a shoulder! Ambrose wants in, fans want him in, and so does McIntyre. Tag and now we get Lunatic against Psycho. McIntyre draws the line in the sand and dares Ambrose to cross it. Ambrose sees the challenge and crosses the line. They grind foreheads, then McIntyre pie faces Ambrose. Ambrose kicks and chops, but McIntyre clubs his back. McIntyre runs but Ambrose dropkicks the knee out. Mahistrol cover, TWO!
Ambrose gives McIntyre crossface forearms. Ziggler hops in but Rollins chases him away. McIntyre clobbers Ambrose in the opening, and then stomps Ambrose at the ropes. McIntyre brings Ambrose over to his corner to chop him, then tags in Ziggler. The champs mug Ambrose in their corner, then Ziggler grinds Ambrose’s face on ropes. Ziggler drives elbows into Ambrose’s shoulder, then wraps on a chinlock. Ambrose endures and stands up while fans rally. Ambrose gets his second wind and fights out with elbows. Ziggler rocks him with a right, but takes time to soak in the heat. Ziggler whips but Ambrose catches him, for a flapjack hotshot! Both men are down but Ambrose crawls for his corner. Ziggler tries to stop him, but he still gets the tag to Rollins!
Rollins rallies with elbows, then whips. Ziggler revesres but gets a slingblade! McIntyre gets hit, too, and Rollins boots Ziggler back. Rollins goes up but jumps over. Ziggler swings, misses, and gets a Pele! Rollins sees Ziggler roll out, then builds speed, but McIntyre trips him up. Ziggler jumps in for the satellite DDT! Cover, TWO! Both men are down but McIntyre is back. Ziggler drags Rollins over and tags McIntyre in so he can stomp Rollins. McIntyre stomps Rollins more, then puts him in a corner for more stomps and even chops. McIntyre taunts Ambrose then tags in Ziggler. Ziggler stomps Rollins now, then he taunts Ambrose. Ziggler chokes Rollins at the ropes, and McIntyre gets a cheap shot. The ref has to keep Ambrose from getting in while Ziggler tags to McIntyre.
McIntyre stomps, then stomps Rollins’ hands. He even bends fingers back to keep Rollins from tagging out. McIntyre says Rollins is “nothing to us!” before kicking him down. He drags Rollins up for a standing armlock. Rollins endures while fans rally up. Rollins gets up and jawbreakers back. But McIntyre chops him down! Tag to Ziggler and they stomp Rollins more. Ziggler drops the elbow, then covers, ONE. Ziggler keeps his confidence while he taunts Ambrose and toys with Rollins. The Show-Off laughs as he pushes Rollins around. He dares Rollins to “Do something!” so Rollins hits him back! Rollins whips, Ziggler reverses and hops on for a sleeper hold! Rollins fades and drops to a knee. Fans rally up and Rollins gets his second wind, to power his way over towards Ambrose.
Ziggler rakes the eyes and nose to deny the tag, but still gets a big back suplex! Both men are down and both partners are chomping at the bit. Fans rally, hot tag to McIntyre, but Rollins dodges him. McIntyre trips Ambrose, but Rollins gives him chops. Rollins runs, but into a back elbow. McIntyre swings Rollins with the inverted Alabama Slam! Cover, but Ambrose breaks it! Ambrose goes back to his corner while McIntyre argues with the referee. McIntyre drags Rollins back up, but Rollins fights back. Rollins backs McIntyre down and slips out of the back suplex to hit both champs. Rollins leaps but McIntyre grabs him. Ziggler distracts, that tag doesn’t count! And Rollins gets mugged behind the ref’s back! McIntyre and Ziggler grin because they got away with it.
Tag to Ziggler, and he puts Rollins in a corner. Ziggler toys with Rollins, then puts him on the top rope. He climbs up to join Rollins, but Rollins holds on to deny the superplex. Rollins pries his way out of the hold to then punch Ziggler down. Ziggler returns but is pushed down this time. Rollins adjusts but ZIggler tags to McIntyre. Rollins still gives McIntyre the blockbuster! He and McIntyre are down, but Rollins heads for Ambrose. McIntyre whips him away but Rollins kicks, ducks and hot tag to Ambrose! The Lunatic rallies on Mcintyre in the corner! He stomps a mudhole into McIntyre then runs Ziggler over. McIntyre kicks and whips Ambrose but Ambrose dodges to then hit a leaping lariat.
Ambrose rallies more, kick to suplex but McIntyre reverses. Ambrose slips out but McIntyre denies Dirty Deeds, so Ambrose jackknife covers! TWO, and McIntyre whips again. Ambrose counters with a cross-arm neckbreaker, covers, TWO! Fans rally behind Ambrose while he gets to the top rope. Ziggler lurks but Ambrose kicks him away. Ambrose wants Dirty Deeds on the apron but McIntyre knocks him down. McIntyre drags Ambrose up, but Ambrose turns things around to send McIntyre into the post and Ziggler into the barriers! Ambrose puts McIntyre in, then climbs up again. He fires himself up, for the leaping elbow, only for McIntyre to make it a belly2belly suplex into buckles! Both men are down but fans rally up. Ambrose stirs while McIntyre crawls. Their partners are both down, but are coming back! Tag to Ziggler, tag to Rollins!
Now Rollins rallies with the springboard clothesline, and another clothesline to send Ziggler out. Ziggler & McIntyre regroup, but Rollins DIVES! But is caught. Ambrose DIVES and bowls everyone over! All four men are down on the outside but fans are loving this! A 10 count begins, but the legal men get in at 6 and 9! Ziggler leaps, but Rollins changes the DDT into a Falcon Arrow! Cover, TWO!! That was close but not enough. Rollins keeps his cool, then fires up with “Burn It Down!” Rollins aims for the mule kick, but misses his stomp. Ziggler kicks, but Rollins turns the Famouser into a buckle bomb! Cover, but McIntyre breaks it. Ambrose goes after McIntyre, but McIntyre throws him out.
Rollins uses a knee to send McIntyre out, but Ziggler rolls up. TWO, Rollins tries, TWO, ZIGZAG!! Cover, TWO!? How does Rollins survive?! Fans hope they “Fight Forever!” at this rate. Both Rollins and Ziggler stir, and McIntyre returns to his corner. Ziggler tags out and now the two drag Ziggler up. They want but Ambrose denies the combo, SUPERKICK for McIntyre! Cover, TWO, SUPERKICK again! Rollins hurries up top, frog splash to McIntyre’s back! Cover, TWO!! Another close call for the Architect, but now what does he do? Rollins grits his teeth while McIntyre crawls to the Shield corner. Ambrose returns, and tags in. They both hoist McIntyre up and climb. But Ziggler yanks Rollins off, only to get thrown out. Rollins slingshots but misses!
McIntyre sends Ambrose down and hits a leaping lariat! Then he kips up! The Scottish Stud is so athletic, and he tags Ziggler in so they can finish this. McIntyre puts Ambrose up but Ambrose fights Ziggler down. Ambrose fights out of the electric chair, but McIntyre denies dirty deeds. Rollins tags in and Ambrose barrels through McIntyre. Rollins has Ziggler, SUPERPLEX, roll through but McIntyre CLAYMORES!! Cover from Ziggler, the champions retain!
Winners: McIntyre & Ziggler, Ziggler pinning; still Raw Tag Team Champions
An instant tag classic, and in the end, Strowman’s “dogs of war” hold onto the prize! Are there truly new alpha males in the jungle that is Raw? Or will the hounds of justice come back around to try again?
Braun Strowman like what he sees.
The leader of the pack enjoys seeing McIntyre & Ziggler retain their titles. But he doesn’t like being bothered by Mick Foley. Foley needs to talk with Strowman. Strowman may not think the Cell will change him, but it will. Life will change, but no matter how chaotic it gets, Strowman must respect Foley. And all Foley needs to do is count to three and give Strowman that title. If they do their jobs, that’s good, because Foley doesn’t want a monster problem. Foley wishes Strowman good luck. Will Strowman even need it?
WWE Championship: AJ Styles VS Samoa Joe!
The Destroyer promises to give everyone a happy ending to the story of “Night Night AJ”. But will the jokes, the threats and the insults only cause the Phenomenal One to bring the entirety of his arsenal out to finally shut Joe down?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Joe taunts Styles with trash talk the entire time. Fans favor Styles as the bell rings, and Styles goes right at Joe! Joe anticipates this as he puts up his guard. They go around the ring as Styles throws hands. Joe catches him and puts him in a corner. Joe dirties the break with close headbutts and then those swift but strong jabs. He has Styles reeling as he kicks him int he chest. Styles hits back with haymakers and chops. Joe chops Styles then runs, but into Styles dropkick! Joe bails out while Styles glares. Styles goes out to pursue Joe and hits an apron knee! Joe is down but Styles still looms over him.
Styles drags Joe up to bounce off the announce desk, then off the apron. He goes back in and waits on Joe, only to run and wreck Joe with a dropkick. Fans fire up with Styles while Joe is down again. Styles drags Joe back up and in, then aims from the apron. He prepares his forearm, springboards, but Joe bails out. Styles wants at Joe but the referee wants to keep this in the ring. Styles doesn’t care, he slingshots, but into a kick from Joe! Joe stalks Styles now to boot Styles down! Then Joe throws Styles legs first into steel steps! Joe drags Styles up, puts him in the ring and covers. ONE, but Joe is not bothered by that. Joe circles Styles and brings him up for more of those jabs, and even a chop. He drags Styles up again but Styles throws hands and kicks.
Styles backs Joe down but then Joe suddenly sweeps the legs! Joe stalks Styles to a corner, and grinds his boot into his face. Joe backs off at 4, but comes back for the boot wash! Styles stirs but Joe is on him again. Joe brings Styles up but Styles still hits back. Styles has Joe in a corner now, and rams his shoulder into Joe. Styles also kicks Joe’s leg, evening things up between them. He throws forearms, then kicks the leg. Styles drags Joe out to whip corner to corner, but Joe reverses. Joe hits the back elbow and the Pele! Styles flounders while Joe keeps his focus. Joe kicks Styles out of the ring quite literally, but he builds speed to DIVE! Styles is knocked into the announce desk and moves it! Joe drags Styles up and in, but fans are still on Styles’ side. Cover, TWO!
Joe keeps his cool as he wrenches Styles’ neck. Fans rally up as Styles endures. Styles works his way up against the hold, and fights out with elbows. Styles throws hands, then runs, but into a BIG back elbow from Joe! Joe covers, TWO! Joe grows frustrated, and he drags Styles back around into a chinlock. He grinds Styles down but fans rally up again. Styles manages a ropebreak with his foot, and Joe lets go at 4. Joe stalks Styles to a corner, and hoists him up top. Joe climbs up to join Styles but Styles fights back. They brawl, but Joe’s headbutts get the edge. Joe has Styles but Styles slips out to trip Joe up! Joe hits buckles on the way down, but both men are on the mat. The referee checks on both men while fans build to a duel. Styles crawls away, but Joe follows.
Joe swings but Styles gives his Phenomenal Blitz! He adds another back hand, then a corner clothesline. Styles snapmares, runs and slides for the forearm! Cover, TWO! Joe and Styles are slowing from exhaustion, but Styles still wants a suplex. Joe powers out but runs into a back elbow. Styles moonsault DDT’s! Cover, TWO! Styles grows frustrated while Joe rolls away. Styles springboards, lionsault meets knees! Joe hits Styles with a powerbomb, and high stack! TWO, into the Boston Crab! Styles won’t tap so Joe makes it an STF! Joe even traps an arm to make it a full crossface, and he pulls back hard on Styles’ spine! Styles drags himself around and reaches for anything. His leg gets a ropebreak! Joe lets go, but he keeps his eyes on Styles. Styles crawls to a corner but Joe is on him.
Joe drags Styles up for headbutts, then a stiff forearm. He whips Styles corner to corner, but then Styles dodges! Joe staggers, and Styles chops him. Styles kicks then manages a torture rack lift! He swings Joe out for a tower hacker bomb! Cover, TWO!! Styles is too tired to express frustration, so he just focuses on his next move. Styles goes to the apron, aims at Joe, and springboards for the 450! It hits! Cover, TWO!! And again, Styles is just too tired to even be angry. Joe crawls while Styles sits up. Styles staggers but stalks Joe. He vows to end this with the Clash, but Joe counters to a catapult! Styles hits buckles, then Joe clobbers him with a clothesline from hell! Cover, TWO!! Both men are down because now even Joe is too tired to be upset.
They both slowly stand and Styles gets to a corner. Styles is bleeding from his mouth and a cut on his side. Joe gets him up for the Muscle Buster! But Styles sunset flips, and wants the Clash! Joe fights out, but then has to resist the Calf Crusher. Styles kicks those legs, grabs hold of one, but gets an enziguri! Joe catches his breath before he covers, TWO! Frustration boils over, and now Joe looks at Styles with wild eyes. Joe readies a final punch, but Styles ducks to PELE! Joe flounders but Styles runs in, only to be put on the apron. Styles knocks Joe away, then springboards, Phenomenal– Coquina Clutch!! Joe has Styles by the neck, and keeps Styles away from ropes. He slips back, but Styles makes it a cover! Styles wins!!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall; still WWE Champion
But Joe thinks HE won! He could’ve sworn Styles either tapped or passed out, but he didn’t realize it was a cover. Joe is furious and scares Corey Graves into agreeing. Joe is denied at the goal line, if you will, and is not happy about it. He goes and grabs the belt, claiming it’s rightfully his. But Styles gives him an enziguri! Styles won as far as the records and referee say, but given alternate angles, it is clear Styles did tap just before Three. Armed with this information, will Joe come back for another try?
Backstage interview with The Miz & Maryse.
The It Couple, in matching white-out gear, they finally step in with the couple they’ve been antagonizing. Antagonizing? No, they made Bryan & Brie relevant again. Those two should thank Miz & Maryse, up until they make this a PR Nightmare. Maryse says Brie is a coward who hits Miz because Miz can’t hit her back. These two are the real hardest hitting couple in WWE, and they plan to prove it by making Brie & Bryan what they really are: “Irrelevant losers!” Will the mouths of Miz & Mrs write checks their bodies can’t cash?
Mixed Tag Match: Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella VS The Miz & Maryse!
SmackDown’s two power couples collide in a match that has been years in the making. The Hollywood A-Lister got help from his leading lady to win at Summerslam, but will the sequel be better than the original? Or will Bryan & Brie say “YES! YES!” to a comeback story happy ending?
The bell rings and the ladies start. Brie and Maryse circle, finally getting to fight, but then Maryse retreats to her corner. She tags out to Miz so Bryan comes in. Miz and Maryse talk strategy for a second, then Miz circles with Bryan. Maryse distracts and Miz boots Bryan! Miz stomps away then throws hands in an open corner. Miz throws his “hardest hitting” left hand, but Bryan isn’t exactly knocked out by it. Brie wants to show Miz her own hardest punch, but Miz whips Bryan corner to corner. Bryan goes up and over and hits a leaping lariat. Miz gets to a corner and Bryan prepares his hand. He starts giving Miz punches in the corner! Fans “YES! YES!” all the way to 10, then Bryan whips Miz. Miz kicks Bryan away, then runs, but into a takedown!
Miz gets away and flounders out of the ring. He narrowly avoids the Yes Lock, and says he’s also the smartest competitor in WWE. Bryan tags out, that’s a flaw in Miz’s plan. But then Miz quickly tags back in, and Maryse taunts with her hair tossing pose. Bryan returns to circle with Miz again, and fans chant “Coward! Coward!” at Miz. Miz kicks but Bryan catches it to dragon screw Miz down. Bryan gives EuroUppers and haymakers, and Miz is reeling. Bryan whips but Miz reverses to hit the kitchen sink knee. Miz then mocks the Yes chant, to hit the corner to corner dropkick. He hits another, then soaks in the heat as he continues to mock the Yes chant. He hits his A-list lariat. Miz slings Bryan out to then climb up top, but Bryan trips him up!
Miz gets caught upside down, but Bryan drags him back up so he can punch him. Bryan climbs up now, and hits the SUPER STEINER! Bryan starts up the real Yes chant and fingers while Miz crawls away. Miz turns around, dodges the knee, then rolls Bryan! TWO, into Yes Lock! Maryse breaks it up, but then Brie chases her down! The ref stops Brie and gets her to her corner. Miz tries to get the Finale but Bryan slips put to kick and uppercut and kick Miz more. Bryan runs corner to corner for the dropkick! He goes again, but Miz dodges! Bryan hits buckles then the mat, and Brie is a bit worried. She rallies the fans but Miz drags Bryan up. Miz snapmares Bryan into a chinlock, and even rakes the eyes.
Fans rally while Bryan endures. Brie is ready for a tag, and Bryan fights out. Bryan swings, but Miz catches him into the A-List combination! Cover, TWO! Miz grins, he’s still confident he has this in the bag. He makes Brie watch as he drags Bryan back into a chinlock. Miz digs his knee into Bryan’s back but Brie is chomping at the bit. Bryan gets up but Miz puts him in a corner for shoulders. Miz gives the “It Kicks” in the corner, but fans say “No! No!” Brie swipes at Miz but Miz taunts her toughness. Miz hoists Bryan up top and climbs up to join him. Miz wants the superplex, but Bryan holds on to resist. Bryan fights back with body shots over and over, then headbutts Miz down. Bryan adjusts as he fires up, for the diving headbutt! But he misses!
Both men are down, and their wives rally for them. Bryan and Miz crawl, but Miz drags Bryan away. Miz tackles and rains down lefts. Miz whips but Bryan holds ropes. Bryan dumps Miz out to the outside! Maryse panics but Brie fires up. Bryan crawls, hot tag to Brie! The women must come in, but Maryse really doesn’t want to. Miz blocks the way, so Brie rocks him with rights of her own! Brie runs, Brie Mode baseball slide on Maryse! Brie bounces Maryse’s face off the announce desk, while Bryan clotheslines Miz out. Bryan gives Miz a flying knee off the apron! Brie and Bryan have the fans chanting “YES! YES!” but Miz whips Bryan into barriers. The women return to the ring, and Brie tackles Maryse! Brie hops up quick, for a missile dropkick! Cover, but Miz drags Brie off it. Bryan comes back to attack Miz!
The Yes Couple have the It Couple in the middle of the ring. And together, it’s His & Hers YES KICKS! Fans are at a fever pitch as the buzzsaws build up, but Miz & Maryse escape. They decide to quit this match and go for a walk. But Brie & Bryan won’t let them! They attack from behind at the ramp, and Brie brings Maryse back. Brie puts Maryse in and Brie Mode hits the knee! Bryan goes after Miz but gets pushed away. Brie pushes Maryse into Miz! Brie rolls Maryse, but Maryse reverses and holds tights! Miz & Maryse win!
Winners: The Miz & Maryse, Maryse pinning
That’s 2-0 for the It Couple against the Yes Couple! Brie & Bryan are beside themselves as they’re cheated again. Is the comeback a total bust for them both? Or is this battle of the WWE Network stars far from over?
Raw Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey w/ Natalya VS Alexa Bliss w/ Mickie James & Alicia Fox!
The Baddest Woman on the Planet has been seen as nothing more than “an over-hyped rookie” in the eyes of The Goddess. However, Rowdy Ronda has proven to Alexa that in the ring, Alexa is little more than a chew toy to the former UFC Women’s Champion. Since Summerslam, Alexa has schemed to weaken Ronda, but Ronda believes she’s still the best, even when not 100%. Will Ronda prove Alexa she’s not just hype? Or will Alexa take full advantage of her long-game plan?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the bell rings. Ronda is ready and she gets a headlock takedown on Alexa. Alexa makes it a cover but Ronda rolls it back. They both stand and Alexa gets a waistlock. Ronda spins it around to a fireman’s carry and covers, TWO! Ronda keeps on Alexa and gets a bridging clutch cover! TWO, and Alexa is already frustrated with how a battered Ronda is out wrestling her. The two circle again, and they tie up. Ronda puts Alexa on the ropes, but Alexa shoves her back. Ronda rocks Alexa with a right, but then Alexa kicks the ribs. Alexa drags Ronda up and to a corner for a buckle bump. Alexa goes after those ribs, but then Ronda gets around to throw more hands.
Ronda monkey flips and mounts, but Mickie and Alicia distract. Alexa gets away but Ronda catches that kick into an overhead toss! Ronda drags Alexa up and asks “Who wants a souvenir tonight?” Mickie and Alicia help Alexa get the ropebreak and the escape. Alexa catches her breath but Ronda pursues! Ronda scares the friends off and then scares the goddess off her feet. Natty laughs as her own friend smacks Alexa around. Ronda puts Alexa in, and wants Alexa to get up. Alexa smiles but Mickie and Alicia swipe. Alexa runs but Ronda side steps to send her out onto Alicia and Mickie! Ronda teases them, “Who needs enemies with friends like that?” She drags Alexa back up and in, but Alexa hotshots by holding the hair! Alexa kicks those bad ribs, then covers, ONE.
Alexa grabs hair again as she grows further frustrated. She bumps Ronda off buckles then rams her shoulders into those ribs. She grinds in as hard as she can, but backs off at 4. Alexa comes back with a stiff kick to the side! Her friends applaud while she snapmares and puts Ronda in a seated abdominal stretch. Ronda endures while Natty and fans rally. Alexa and her sidekicks all shout for Ronda to quit, but San Antonio gives Ronda life. Ronda powers out and scoops Alexa, but those ribs prevent the Rowdy Slam! Alexa slips out and throws Ronda out. She then adds Insult2Injury with those knee drops! Cover, TWO! Alexa puts Ronda in the Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch now, bending and stretching Ronda as far as she can. Natty rallies the fans and Ronda powers her way out.
Alexa keeps Ronda grounded, then bumps her off buckles. Alexa stomps another mudhole into those ribs, then drags Ronda up. Ronda fights back while Alexa is up top. Ronda climbs up to join Alexa, but Alexa resists the superplex. Alexa uses those body shots to escape, then tires a bomb. Ronda fights out of that with a punch and a kick, but then Alexa trips her up! She’s in a Tree of Woe, and Alexa dropkicks the ribs! Cover, TWO! Alexa is furious as she puts Ronda in the abdominal stretch again. Natty and the fans keep rallying, and Ronda gets out. Ronda rolls but Alexa dropkicks her down again. Alexa rams Ronda ribs first into buckles! Then Alexa pulls Ronda against the post! She stops at 4, to pull again, and stops at 4. But then Alicia and Mickie get cheap shots in!
Natty snap suplexes Alicia, but Mickie is still in action. Ronda counters and then throws Mickie into a post! Ronda runs, double crossbodies take both Ronda and Alexa out! However, Ronda’s ribs make it all the worse for her. Alexa crawls over, drags Ronda up, but Ronda small packages! TWO, but backslide, TWO! Alexa kicks the ribs yet again! Alexa keeps hitting the ribs, and then laughs at the wounded Ronda. But that pisses Ronda off! Ronda powers up, gut wrench powerbomb!! Ronda can’t cover, her ribs hurt so much. But she powers herself, ready for more. She gives Alexa a taste of her medicine with all those body shots. Then she throws Alexa by an arm-drag, only to run into a mule kick. Ronda backs off from rib pain, but is ready for Alexa! ROWDY SLAM! And then, once again, ARM BAR! Alexa taps, Ronda wins!
Winner: Ronda Rousey, by submission; still Raw Women’s Championship
Just as she said, she’s still the best, even when less than perfect. Her ribs her but Natty is there to help her celebrate. Ronda successfully retains in her first defense, how many more defenses will she have in her first reign?
Samoa Joe protests the decision on his match.
But GM Paige addresses the issue. Joe is clearly upset, but he doesn’t want to listen. She tells him the decision is final, but he will get another chance at Super Show Down. Three weeks away, huh? Not good enough for Joe! Joe should be champion now instead of arguing it out. Joe wants things to change. No Disqualification, no count out, no excuses! Paige agrees with him for once. Joe wants the title, but will he get it?
WWE Universal Championship Hell in a Cell Match: Roman Reigns VS Braun Strowman, Mick Foley as special guest referee!
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the most memorable Hell in a Cell moment, Stephanie McMahon was gracious enough to grant Mrs. Foley’s baby boy this honor of officiating one of the biggest Cell matches yet. Foley won’t let Strowman disrespect him, but Strowman won’t let anyone or anything stand between him, The Big Dog, and total dominance over Raw. Can Roman hope to retain his title inside this sinister steel? Can he hope to survive it?
The introductions are made, and Roman stares Strowman down the entire way. But when Roman raises the belt, Strowman snatches it to say it’s already his. Roman rocks him with an uppercut! Foley calls for the bell and Roman keeps rocking Strowman with rights. Roman gives close range clotheslines but Strowman turns it around. Strowman hits a corner clothesline, then runs, but into a boot! Roman throws more uppercuts, but Strowman knees low. Strowman throws Roman right into a post! Roman tumbles out, but then gets blasted into the steel! Foley checks on Roman but he’s okay to continue. Strowman goes out to fetch Roman, bouncing him off the steel again.
Fans are rabid both ways as Strowman bounces Roman off posts. Strowman throws Roman into steel again, then looms over him. He rubs it in that Roman’s “boys” can’t help him here. Strowman puts Roman back in in the ring but Rmoan throws hands. They don’t seem to bother Strowman, and Strowman throws Roman with one arm. Roman dodges and manages to send Strowman out with a leaping lariat! Strowman catches his breath but Roman comes around, only for Strowman to blast him into the cell wall again! Strowman grinds his boot into Roman’s head, then drags Roman back up. He bounces Roman off the apron, then off steel steps. Strowman bounces Roman off the steps again, and again, then just dumps him down.
Strowman decides to take part of the steps for a weapon, but Roman hits the Drive-By dropkick! And another! Strowman staggers, Roman watches while catching his breath. Roman takes aim again, but is caught, into an apron choke slam! Fans chant “Get These Hands!” while Strowman finds a kendo stick from under the ring. That’s not good enough for him, he grabs a chair. But Roman uses the stick to SMACK away. Strowman breaks the stick! He puts Roman in the ring, but Roman kicks him on the entry. Roman grabs that chair now, and jabs it into Strowman’s ribs and SMACKS it across the back. He SMACKS Strowman more, but then Strowman catches the chair! Strowman runs, but gets post! Roman takes the chair back, and brings Strowman over for a DDT on it! Cover, TWO and with power!
Roman is surprised by Strowman simply shaking the cob webs out of his head. Roman locks and loads, takes aim and… SUPERMAN PUNCH! Strowman stays standing, so Roman reloads for a second SUPERMAN Punch! Still not enough, so Roman tries but is denied a third, for another choke slam! Cover, TWO!? Strowman argues, he saw the hand go down. Foley defends that Roman got up just in time, though barely. Strowman keeps his cool, and decides to go after Roman again. He scoops Roman, but Roman slips out. Roman gets to a corner and boots Strowman away. Roman dodges Strowman, runs, and turns the pop-up into a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO! Now it’s Roman’s turn to be a bit surprised by the count.
Strowman gets to the apron and out of the ring. Roman thinks on what to do next. Foley goes out, anticipating where this is leading. Strowman stirs while Roman goes out the other end. Roman looks under the ring, and finds a table! Foley likes that, being an ECW man himself. Roman puts the table in the ring but he sees Strowman standing. The Big Dog is baffled by the Monster’s resilience. Strowman lumbers his way around, still groggy. Roman lets out the howl and picks up speed around the corner, but runs into those steel steps! Strowman tosses the steps into the ring, then drags Roman in. Strowman takes the steps again, and rams Roman again! Cover, TWO!!
Strowman is growing further frustrated, and shouts “Why won’t you stay down, you moron!?” He picks up the stairs again, looms over Roman, and brings them down on the ribs! Strowman tosses the steps against the steel walls, then drags Roman up again. Roman is sputtering as Strowman scoops him up. Strowman hits the Monster Slam! Cover, TWO!? Now Strowman is the one shocked and confused. Strowman formulates a new plan, and decides to use the table Roman brought in. Strowman sets it in a corner, then dares Roman to stand up. Roman slowly does, but Strowman scoops him again. Roman slips out and then SUPERMAN PUNCH number 4! And number 5! Then SPEAR, through the table!! Cover, TWO!?! These two men have proven to be superhuman, but this is inhuman.
But wait, here come Ziggler & McIntyre! The Pack is here to help their leader, but then the Shield come out to stop them! They brawl it out and take out McIntyre, then flank Ziggler. Ziggler leads them on a chase but gets caught and thrown into the cell walls! Ambrose & Rollins beat Ziggler down, then clear off the announce desk. But then McIntyre saves Ziggler while throwing Rollins & Ambrose into the red steel. Ziggler & McIntyre clear the other announce desk off, but now it’s another brawl. McIntyre throws Ambrose over the side into the timekeeper, while Ziggler climbs up the wall! Rollins pursues, and they both reach the top! Foley watches them closely as they brawl fast and furious! Rollins gets Ziggler but Ziggler resists. But McIntyre climbs up, too!
Rollins wants something, but McIntyre saves Ziggler! The champs mug Rollins, but here comes Ambrose, armed with a kendo stick! McIntyre & Ziggler drag Rollins up, Rollins fights but gets a SUPERKICK. Ambrose joins them and uses the kendo stick on them both! The Lunatic has San Antonio fired up, but McIntyre brawls with him fast and furious again. Double clotheslines take them both out, and the cell ceiling holds. They all slowly stir, and Ziggler decides to start making his way down. But Rollins heads after him, forcing Ziggler to shimmy towards the corner. Rollins has his hair! Ziggler fights Rollins off and continues descending. Rollins continues to pursue, and now they’re both on the side of the cell. A familiar spot for the Architect back when he and Ambrose were on opposite sides of the fight.
Ziggler headbutts Rollins but Rollins bounces Ziggler’s head off the side. They keep hitting each other off red steel, and Rollins teeters. He recovers, but both men take each other out, and they BOTH fall off and through tables!! Fans lose their minds while spare referees check on the two men who just crash landed. But wait, is that BROCK LESNAR!? What is The Beast doing here?! He wants his rematch, but was denied such by Kurt Angle before Stephanie McMahon replaced him with Corbin. But then Lesnar just says to hell with unlocking the door, he kicks it in!! And fans lose their minds again as he climbs right in the ring.
Lesnar drags that door in with him while Paul Heyman maces Foley!! Lesnar SMACKS Strowman with part of the wrecked table! And then SMACK for Roman with another piece of wrecked table. Then SMACK for Strowman again, and SMACK for Roman. SMACK for Strowman, and Lesnar has his pick of prey. Lesnar drags Strowman up, to F5 him right down! But he’s not done, because he still owes Roman for Summerslam. Lesnar fireman’s carry on Roman, to F5 him on top of Strowman! The Beast roars as the last behemoth standing, but will this path of destruction really earn him his rematch?
Called by Referee’s Decision; Roman Reigns retains the WWE Universal Championship
My Thoughts:
Am I somehow in an alternate universe? This Hell in a Cell PPV, with having the weirdest builds in some time, was actually really good! I’m still disappointed the SmackDown Tag titles were on the Kickoff, but New Day & Rusev Day made it feel like it was already the main show. I figured New Day retains, and chances are they retain through Super Show Down against The Bar to make this 5th reign just as good as their history-setting 4th reign. Opening with the grudge match Cell match was actually a great move because holy hell Orton went above and beyond my expectations for his newest and most horrifying ear gauge spot yet. And it’s pretty clear Hardy getting hurt from his own amazing spot was exaggerated to make Orton look even more merciless.
Charlotte VS Becky was pretty much exactly what it was supposed to be. They were so even, and then it wasn’t even about using a finisher to win, but taking advantage of how well one knew the other. Becky wins, as I hoped she would, and now she can be red hot through whatever challengers she has at Super Show Down and/or WWE Evolution. If anything, Becky is doing so well, she could retain all the way to Royal Rumble, and fans will probably still love her. The Raw Tag Team Championship match was even more insane, and McIntyre-Ziggler win in a way that really did surprise me. But as we saw later, this was just a signal as to neither side getting all the belts.
The first point of contention I have with tonight is the match order here for the last two SmackDown matches. I would’ve put the Mixed Tag Match before the WWE Championship match, because obviously the championship is more important. But order aside, both matches were still really good. Styles VS Joe had a great back and forth, because they also know each other so well from their two decades of friendship. I thought it was rather clever for them to bring controversy into the finish, even though it’s almost too much like NXT’s Kairi Sane VS Shayna Baszler. Joe has issue, Paige gives him his rematch, but him saying he wants there to be “no excuses”, I’m thinking Paige is either making this another Last Man Standing, or an I Quit match.
The Mixed Tag was pretty good, with a standard story for the Heels of being sneaky and what not. I was surprised to see Miz & Maryse win, but chances are that means Super Show Down features Miz VS Bryan rematch where Bryan wins, and WWE Evolution features Brie VS Maryse where Brie wins. That way things are at least settled in singles competition for both sides. Ronda VS Alexa was great, the story element of Ronda’s ribs was well-executed. It shows how well Ronda can sell things, and gives her character points for being tough. Of course Ronda wins, because between Alexa facing Trish Stratus at Evolution and Ronda apparently facing Nikki Bella, these two needed to settle their story quick. Ronda is great, she’s going to have that title to the Rumble like Becky.
Then finally comes the main event Cell match. Again, McIntyre & Ziggler retaining meant Roman was going to retain, and that was made a bit clear by how over the top the two of them were in surviving each other’s moves. This was also the definition of “over booked”, by transforming it into an unofficial Six Man Tag Cell match by sending the four support players out (as I had predicted). I did like their spots, such as the four man brawl on top of the cell, and then Rollins and Ziggler going through announce desks. But then came my second point of contention. Lesnar shows up, which was a great surprise, but I don’t see how his attack causes a “No Contest” variant. Cell matches are No DQ, so at least give things two more minutes so someone tries something.
Though, perhaps the idea was that if Roman can’t win but also can’t lose, everyone gets what they want. Vince keeps Roman strong and fans don’t boo him for going over Strowman in what was considered his MITB Cash-in. But at the same, it only messes Strowman up. His cash-in fails, and unless Corbin says something on social media or on tomorrow night’s Raw, Strowman doesn’t get another try. A triple threat is probably the best option, because Lesnar might just do this again if he isn’t included somewhere in the title match. Granted, I hope he does not win, but at least he’ll have gotten his rematch like he wanted. Anything else and both he and Heyman will have to (kayfabe) complain to Stephanie/Vince.
My Score: 8.6/10
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Is Orange Cassidy coldblooded? Or just in control?
Before their AEW World Championship match at Full Gear, Jon Moxley puts Wheeler Yuta in Orange Cassidy’s way! Will Cassidy destroy The Decoder before going for The Maniac?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- 8 Man Tag: Will Ospreay, Mark Davis, Ricochet & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS The Don Callis Family; The Don Callis Family wins.
- Kris Statlander VS Hikaru Shida; Kris wins.
- 2v1 Handicap: Bobby Lashley w/ The Hurt Syndicate VS Joe Keys & Cheeseburger; Lashley wins.
- Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli; Claudio wins.
- Orange Cassidy VS Wheeler Yuta w/ The Death Riders; Cassidy wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
8 Man Tag: Will Ospreay, Mark Davis, Ricochet & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS The Don Callis Family!
This All-Star 8 Man is going to make for a massive match! The Aerial Assassin, Dunk Zilla, The One & Only and the man the family foolishly forgot are now teamed together against Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage & Lance Archer! Will Ospreay lead this team to victory ahead of the grudge matches at Full Gear? Or will Callis’ Alpha, Aussie Arrow, Machine & Murderhawk Monster make sure #EverybodyDies?
Well forget sorting out, Ospreay leads his team in attacking the Callis Family right on the ramp! The fans fire up as Hobbs is after Archer, Davis is after Cage, and of course Ricochet is after Konosuke while Ospreay is after Kyle! Hobbs smacks Archer off railing, Kyle CLUBS Ospreay on the back, but Ospreay kicks low. Ospreay sends Kyle into railing, rips the tearaway pants right off him, and then LASHES him with them! Davis sends Cage into railing while Ospreay uses those pants to SLING Kyle into more railing! Davis CLUBS away on Cage, Ospreay blows snot on Kyle’s pants, and Davis sends Cage into more railing.
Kyle turns things around to send Ospreay into railing! Konosuke helps Cage against Davis but Hobbs still throws hands on Archer. Kyle CLUBS Ospreay, CLUBS Ricochet, but Konosuke puts Davis in the ring. The bell rings and this is finally a match. Konosuke headlocks Davis but Davis fires body shots. Davis powers up and out, but Konosuke RAMS him! The fans fire up as Davis stays up. Davis runs to RAM Konosuke! Konosuke stays up and the fans rally. Konosuke runs to RAM Davis, but Davis runs. Konosuke bypasses, leaps, but Davis catches him for a TOSS! And a SENTON! The fans fire up with Davis, and Ricochet reaches out.
Davis tags Ricochet in , then holds the way open, for Ricochet to FOSBURY FLOP onto Konosuke! But Cage CLOBBERS Davis! Cage then RAMS Ricochet into the apron, POSTS him, but Ospreay PENALTY KICKS Cage! The fans fire up as Ospreay goes up, but Kyle UPPERCUTS him! The fans boo as Kyle goes up, CLUBS away on Ospreay, and Ospreay falls to the floor. But now Hobbs is up! Kyle says wait! Then he fires hands! Hobbs just CHOPS Kyle! Hobbs climbs up to get Kyle, but Archer CLUBS Hobbs! Archer drags Hobbs down, throws hands, then puts Hobbs in between steps and post! Hobbs fights back, but Cage sends Ospreay into the steps!
The fans boo as Hobbs’ leg is crushed between steps and post! Archer puts Ricochet in the ring while a medic checks Hobbs. Archer brings Ricochet up but Ricochet slips free to fire off fast strikes! Hobbs is being helped to the back and Ospreay is concerned that this is now 4v3. Ricochet still fires strikes on Archer, but Archer grabs Ricochet by the neck! CHOKE- NO, Ricochet RANAS Archer first! Archer tumbles, stands up, and Ricochet springboards, but Archer CLOBBERS Him out of the sky! Archer BLASTS Davis, then catches Ospreay out of the air! Archer TOSSES Ospreay away and fans boo. But Ricochet springboards back in!
Archer catches Ricochet, and he CHOKE SLAMS Ricochet out onto Ospreay and Davis! The fans boo as the Don Callis Family is in control, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Cage & Kyle flex to soak up the heat, then Archer goes out after Ospreay and the rest. Konosuke fetches Ricochet into the ring, waistlocks, and then brings him away from the corner. Archer beats up on Ospreay while Konosuke fires knees into Ricochet. Ricochet tumbles to ropes but Konosuke is on him. Davis fires hands on Archer, then sends him into railing! Davis fires more hands, but Konosuke CHOKES Ricochet at the ropes! The ref counts, Konosuke steps off and tags Kyle. Kyle stays between Ricochet and his corner. Kyle taunts Ricochet, stomps him around, then whips him to ropes. Kyle ELBOWS Ricochet down, then stalks him to a corner.
Kyle stomps away on Ricochet while Archer intimidates commentary. Kyle shouts at the camera while the ref counts, and Kyle steps off of Ricochet’s neck. Kyle bumps Ricochet off buckles, tags Cage, and Cage stands Ricochet up. Cage CHOPS Ricochet, then whips him to ropes for an ELBOW! Cage flexes while he taunts Ospreay & Davis. Cage drags Ricochet up but Ricochet RAMS him! And RAMS him! And fires forearms! Cage ROCKS Ricochet, then runs, but into a tiger wall kick and ENZIGIRI! Konosuke tags in and storms after Ricochet. Konosuke stomps Ricochet, then rains down fists! The ref reprimands while Dynamite returns to single picture.
Konosuke argues with the ref while Ospreay rallies the fans. Konosuke stays between Ricochet and his team, but Ricochet SLAPS Konosuke! Konosuke ROCKS Ricochet for it! Ricochet fires forearms and an UPPERCUT! Konosuke keeps Ricochet from his corner, reels Ricochet in, but Ricochet victory rolls! TWO, and Ricochet ducks a chop to handspring BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ricochet and Konosuke crawl, hot tags to Kyle and Ospreay! The fans fire up as these two fire fists and forearms! Kyle kicks and whips but Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Kyle!
Ospreay whips, Kyle reverses, Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! Kyle staggers, Konosuke tags back in! Ospreay dodges Konosuke to BLAST Cage & Archer! Ospreay fires fists on Konosuke, but Konosuke CLAWS Ospreay’s face! Konosuke runs, but Davis intercepts with a fireman’s carry! AUSSIE DENTAL PLAN! Or maybe in this case, just a United Empire Dental Plan! But in any case, Davis scoops Konosuke, for the LAWN DART CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives but the fans fire up. Ospreay & Davis bring Konosuke up, double pump handle, but the #MurderMachines make the save!
Archer puts Davis in a corner, Cage ducks Ospreay’s haymaker to waistlock. Archer runs up, BOOT GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! Davis fires hands on Archer but Cage waistlocks, ripcords, and ROCKS Davis! Then fireman’s carry into the ASSISTED NECKBREAKER! The fans boo but the Murder Machines DOUBLE RIPCORD Ospreay up for Konosuke’s BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives and shocks everyone! Archer argues with the ref but the count was fair. Konosuke tags Kyle while fans rally up behind Ospreay. Kyle smirks as he stalks Ospreay. Kyle BOOTS Ricochet off the apron for good measure!
Kyle tells Ospreay that this is how he wants it, right? All about Ospreay! Kyle stomps away on Ospreay in the corner, then digs his boots in! The ref counts but wait! Here comes Hobbs! Hobbs hobbles but Kyle hurries to send Ospreay to the Callis corner. Tag to Konosuke and then Kyle slides out. Kyle runs up on Hobbs, but Hobbs CLOBBERS him! The fans fire up as Hobbs makes his way to the corner. Ospreay fights free of the corner but Konosuke holds him back! Ospreay fires forearms, reaches out, repeat! The fans rally as hard as they can, but Konosuke reels Ospreay in! Konosuke hits a back suplex, but Ospreay lands out!
Ospreay dodges Konosuke, hot tag to Hobbs! The Powerhouse powers up to rally on Konosuke! The fans fire up as Hobbs TOSSES Kyle, but the Murder Machines attack! They reel Hobbs in, but Hobbs fights the double suplex! The fans fire up but the Murder Machines double whip. Hobbs DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up as Hobbs has targets in all corners! SPLASH for Konosuke! SPLASH for Cage! SPLASH for Kyle! SPLASH for Archer! The fans are thunderous and Hobbs brings the straps down. Archer kicks low, then runs, but Hobbs dodges, to SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up again, and Hobbs tags Davis!
Davis runs up to BOOT Konosuke, BOOT him again, but Konosuke just fires up! Ospreay CANNONBALLS onto Kyle while Konosuke fires hands! Konosuke spins, but Davis DECKS him! Davis roars, stands Konosuke up, but Konosuke backdrops back! POWER- NO, Davis stops the knee to ENZIGIRI! Davis gut wrenches Konosuke, for a PILEDRIVER!! Cover, KYLE BREAKS IT! The fans boo but now Aussie Open is face to face! Kyle pie faces Davis, talks trash, but Davis glares at him. Kyle SLAPS Davis, so Davis TACKLES Kyle! Davis throws hands, Kyle gets up, and Davis runs up! Kyle dodges and Konosuke DECKS Davis!
Ricochet springboards, FLYING LARIAT on Konosuke! But Cage POP-UP POWERBOMBS Ricochet! Hobbs SPINEBUSTERS Cage! Archer CHOKE SLAMS Hobbs! Ospreay hits the PIP PIP CHEERIO FOREARM on Archer! Ospreay dares Kyle to man up and fight him! Kyle snarls, gets in, and they fire forearms again! Kyle swings, Ospreay catches him, but Kyle breaks the full nelson with an elbow! Ospreay HOOK KICKS Kyle! Ospreay runs, Kyle dodges, but then Ospreay slips through the lariat! Kyle slips through the bomb, hoists Ospreay up, but Ospreay slips free! Kyle ducks the hook kick to SUPERKICK! Kyle runs, into the SPANISH FLY!!
The fans are thunderous as Ospreay takes aim from a corner! Kyle rises, so does Davis, and Ospreay runs up, Kyle uses Davis as a shield from the HIDDEN BLADE!! Ospreay freaks out, Kyle SUPERKICKS Ospreay out of the ring! Then Kyle DIVES onto Ospreay! Konosuke brings down his kneepad, aims at Davis, POWER DRIVE KNEE!!! Cover, Don Callis Family wins!!
Winners: The Don Callis Family, by pinfall
The Alpha stands tall over Davis as friendly fire takes out Ospreay’s team. But what happens when things divide into 1v1 matches? Will Konosuke still be International Champion after he and Ricochet go #OuttaThisWorld? Will Kyle prove that he IS The Protostar after tearing down Will Ospreay?
Jon Moxley & The Death Riders speak.
“Despite recent discoveries that Orange Cassidy is a snake, coldblooded, uncaring, unmoving, a serpent lurking in the darkest corners of the battlefield, my objective remains the same, my job on Saturday night remains the same. You may be this borderline sociopath, you may be a great guy just like everybody thinks. I don’t care if you’re a great guy. I don’t care what kind of person you are. When the bell rings on Saturday night, and the AEW World Championship hangs in the balance, you are a threat to my people. And I will destroy you.
“There’s so much more going on behind Orange Cassidy’s eyes than any of us could’ve imagined. You may make it to Full Gear with your mind in tact, but your body… For that matter, Darby Allin’s body… Still up for grabs.” Claudio jumps in, speaking in German about what he’ll do to Darby. Then in English, he says, “Tonight, I’m gonna end you.” Moxley pats Claudio on the shoulder. Will The Maniac’s top henchmen do his dirty work for him when they dismantle Cassidy & Darby? Or will it just be fuel on the fire for Freshly Squeezed & The Relentless One? Speaking of…
Darby Allin speaks.
“Claudio, I’m gonna keep this really short. Let’s not forget you’re the one who put the chair around Bryan’s neck and pulled the trigger on his career. Every single one of you Death Riders will have your day. And Claudio, today’s your day.” Will Moxley’s men be dealt with in brutal fashion before he suffers the same?
The Hurt Syndicate arrive.
Renee Paquette waits in the parking lot as an SUV pulls up, and she welcomes Montel Vontavious Porter, Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley to the show. She heard MVP has a surprise in store, what’s he got planned? MVP says yes, there is a special treat for the AEW audience, and that is this announcement: The All Mighty Bobby Lashley will be in action here tonight on Dynamite in Reading, Pennsylvania, prior to his PPV debut on Saturday! Renee asks if MVP is at all concerned to put Lashley in a match- OH NO, Swerve attacks!! Swerve knocks Lashley over, then laughs as he gets away!
Shelton helps Lashley up but that ambush might’ve been with Swerve’s own silver chain. Will Lashley elect not to compete tonight after all? Or is he about to make an example out of whatever poor soul is put in front of him?
Adam Cole is here!
Reading fires up as the Panama City Playboy makes his way to the ring. They join in with the “BOOM!” and “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” Cole grabs a mic to ask, “Who’s ready for Storytime with Adam Cole, Baybay?” Reading sure is ready! Cole wishes so so badly that he could get his hands on MJF this Saturday, but he’s not. MJF did everything in his power to make sure he and Cole didn’t fight on Saturday, and he succeeded. But do you know who else succeeded last week? Roderick Strong did! The fans cheer as Cole says he and Roddy have the exact same goal: Give MJF the ass whooping of a lifetime! And that is exactly what happens at Full Gear!
The fans cheer, and wait, Kyle O’Reilly makes his way out here. The longtime friend of Cole & Roddy makes his way out here, and already has a mic. Kyle isn’t sure if Cole remembers, but 14 years ago, right here in Reading, PA, Cole and Kyle had their second match ever against each other. They’ve come a long way. Being associated with Cole has given Kyle some incredible highs, and some serious lows. And through those lows, Kyle knows Cole better than anyone. Which makes Kyle the only one willing to tell Cole the truth. The truth is, this crusade against MJF has got to end before someone gets hurt.
This obsession, Cole needs to wash his hands of it. His ankle has already been reconstructed, what’s next? Cole has friends willing to take a bullet for him, Kyle included, but Cole has got to stop having his friends fight his battles. Roddy barely makes it out alive last week, and now he wants to fight MJF! He wants to END MJF, all because of Cole. Kyle just doesn’t have a good feeling about any of this. Cole asks Kyle what he’s trying to say here. Kyle doesn’t think Roddy can handle MJF? Kyle asks Cole if he really thinks MJF isn’t already three steps ahead. MJF hasn’t been here for weeks but he’s pulling all the strings.
Cole should know that dealing with MJF is like playing with fire, and Kyle doesn’t wanna see his friends get burned. Cole needs to realize why so many of his friends are willing to go to war for him, and it’s because he is a great leader, an elite pro-wrestler, and a great friend, who doesn’t wanna see his friends get hurt. At least, so Kyle thinks. But Cole has to face facts: MJF is more of an evil bastard than Cole will ever be, and that is a good thing. Kyle drops his mic and walks away. Cole drops his mic, and has a lot to think about. Does Kyle have a point? Can Cole just let Roddy handle MJF and then move on?
Orange Cassidy speaks.
“A little later tonight, I’m gonna make an example out of you, Wheeler Yuta. And I’m gonna show everybody exactly what I’m gonna do this Saturday to you, Jon Moxley. And that’s walk down to that ring and beat you, alone.” But The Conglomeration steps in. Mark Briscoe has Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii with him as he asks Cassidy, “What sense does that make, man?” Moxley said himself, there’s five Death Riders, one Cassidy. Conglomeration has his back, they are here for him. Cassidy says no, no one else needs to get hurt. Get hurt? What’s Cassidy talking about? The Conglomeration are ready to scrap!
PLEASE!! Cassidy is asking them… They don’t have to believe him or even understand him. But just promises him they’ll stay back here. If Cassidy insists, then so be it. Cassidy says there you have it, Jon. Five of you, one of him. Do what you’re gonna do. Because at Full Gear, Moxley’s gonna need all the help he can get. Cassidy is himself wanting the best for his friends, but will that work out for the betterment of AEW? Or is he just playing into Moxley’s hands?
Kris Statlander VS Hikaru Shida!
The #BornAgainKristen bodied the bullies that are Mercedes Mone & Kamille the last time she saw them, but she still needs to tune up for Full Gear. However, taking on the THREE-TIME AEW Women’s World Champion might be more than just a workout. Win, lose or draw, will the Shining Samurai get Kris ready for The CEO?
The bell rings, Kris and Shida shake hands and the fans applaud. The two circle, tie up, and Kris wrenches to a wristlock. Shida handsprings and wrenches back, then hammerlocks. Kris reaches back, hits a headlock takeover, but Shida headscissors. Kris kips free and the fans cheer while the two reset. Shida and Kris circle again while the fans fire up. The two tie up, Shida wrenches and hammerlocks, then CLUBS Kris on the back. Shida CLUBS Kris again, then waistlocks. Kris fights the lift with elbows, then switches. Kris SLAMS Shida, then flips her over. Shida kips up to arm-drag Kris! Kris ends up in a corner, and Shida runs up to KNEE her!
Shida climbs up and the fans cheer as she rains down fists! But Kris stops Shida at 5 and carries her out of the corner! Shida slips free, Kris blocks a lariat to SWEEP the leg! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Shida is tough and she goes to ropes, but Kris whips her to a corner. Kris runs up but into a RANA! Kris cartwheels through! Then she CLOBBERS Shida! The fans fire up while Kris flexes. Kris drags Shida into a motorcycle stretch but Shida endures. The fans rally up and Shida fights to her feet. Shida arm-drags Kris down, and wraps her in a straitjacket stretch! Kris fights up with a bridge, but Shida hops on!
The fans rally while Kris RAMS Shida into a corner! Shida holds onto the straitjacket and pulls! The ref counts, Shida lets go at 4, and then MISSILE DROPKICKS! Kris tumbles and the fans duel as Shida fires up! Shida goes outside, drags Kris to the apron, and CLUBS her! Shida runs to KNEE LIFT! Kris flops to the floor and fans cheer while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Shida brings Kris up again, and whips her into railing hard! Kris writhes, Shida drags her up, and then Shida whips Kris into more railing! Kris writhes again and Shida refreshes the ring count. Shida sits Kris in a corner to rain down fists! The fans fire up but the ref reprimands, so Shida stops. Shida brings Kris around, pushes her into the ring, and then stalks her. Shida stomps Kris around, brings her up, and snap suplexes! Kris writhes but Shida brings her up again. Shida then snap suplexes Kris into a corner! Shida drags Kris to a cover, TWO! Kris stays in this but Shida stays on her with a chinlock stretch!
Kris endures being bent back, and she reaches out with her free arm. Shida pulls back more but Kris rises up! Shida is again a backpack, but then she slips down. Kris fires body shots, slips around and lifts for a BIG back suplex! Kris huffs ‘n’ puffs as she rises up, but then Shida dodges the sliding forearm! Ghost pin! TWO, and Kris has a cradle! TWO! Shida ROCKS Kris, but Kris PELES! Shida staggers, but she comes back to ENZIGIRI! Both women are down and the fans fire up! The ref checks both women and they’re okay to continue, so a standing count begins. Shida and Kris stir at about 4 of 10, then rise up at 6.
Kris grabs Shida, but Shida fires a forearm! Dynamite returns to single picture as the shots go back and forth. Shida fires a flurry, then whips Kris to ropes. Kris ducks ‘n’ dodges, then dodges a knee! SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up with Kris as she whips Shida to a corner. Kris runs up to UPPERCUT, then she goes side to side for a KNEE LIFT! Shida ends up in ropes but Kris reels her in. Fisherman BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Shida survives and the fans fire up again! Kris hoists Shida up, gut wrenches, but Shida slips free! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Shida eggs Kris on, then dodges her to fire forearms! Kris just shakes her head!
Shida fires more shots, but Kris fireman’s carries! But Shida slips free, straitjacket roll-up! TWO!! KNEE STRIKE! And then short arm LARIAT! Shida takes aim, but she starts to doubt the Katana! Shida runs up but Kris dodges the boot to then scoop and INVERTED SLAM! Then Kris aims, DISCUS- NO, Shida backslides her! TWO!! Shida reels Kris in, suplexes, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO?!? Kris survives and Shida is shocked! Shida brings Kris up but Kris fires body shots and forearms! Shida ROCKS Kris, but Kris wrenches to kick! Kris runs, but into the JUMP KNEE! Shida hurries to suplex, but Kris turns it around!
Shida slips out of Kris’ suplex to slip around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Shida roars, aims, KATA- NO, Kris gut wrenches! Tuck and STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!! Cover, Kris wins!!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
Shida gave Kris a powerful match, but clearly Shida has to iron out her own crisis of confidence. Kris still shows Shida respect by helping her up. But wait, here comes Mercedes Mone & Kamille! The fans boo The CEO & Brickhouse but Mone has a mic. “Readiiiiing~! Say hello to your C E O!” The fans boo instead. Mone asks Kamille if she wants to hear a fun fact about Pennsylvania. The 76ers have had yet another terrible season! Embarrassing~! But shoutouts to Mone’s Celtics for another incredible victory. The fans boo Boston but Mone says another person with an incredible win was Kris Statlander. Mone is rarely impressed by her competition.
Does anyone else want to hear another fun fact? “NO!!” Well, Mone has held the TBS Championship longer than Kris! So at Full Gear, Mone will NOT lose, because she is The CEO, the greatest TBS Champion of all time! And she will NEVER lose this title! Fans tell The CEO to STFU, but Mone tells Kamille go get the job done! She is so pissed off! GO! NOW! Kamille walks up the steps past Mone, but with only one good arm! Mone says hurry up, but Kamille looks at both Shida and Kris. Kamille takes as swing, but Kris blocks to ROCK her! Shida QUESTION MARK KICKS Kamille! Then Kris & Shida TOSS The Brickhouse!
Shida goes out after Kamille, but then Mone goes after Kris! Mone goes for the backstabber, but Kris holds onto ropes! Mone is almost stuck up there, but Kris pops her around! STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!! The fans fire up as Kris stands tall over The CEO! Will Kris once again become the Face of TBS? Or will Mone find a way to win even without her insurance policy?
The Hurt Syndicate has a cameraman with them.
MVP says hold on, he and Shelton have found Swerve. They go after the man in the big fur jacket, but that’s not Swerve! Swerve gave his jacket to the guy, but MVP & Shelton still beat this guy up for helping Swerve. MVP says they’ll find Swerve later, Lashley has his match up next. And it’ll be a 2-on-1 Handicap?! The All Mighty really IS mad, what poor duo is about to be destroyed?
AEW hears from Jay White and Hangman Adam Page.
“Hangman. You and I are on that same path to that same destination, trying to grasp at that same prize. 2024 still has some time left for The Switchblade to share the spotlight with Hangman once more!” But the Blackhat Cowboy asks White if he knows “Who the hell I am?! I am the Hangman! I am THE man! They named this whole godforsaken PPV after ME!” White says when he makes Hangman TAP, it will be a public declaration! But Hangman says White can’t make him tap, even if his life depended on it! These two vicious gunslingers will write one more chapter in their storied rivalry, but who comes out riding off into the sunset?
2v1 Handicap: Bobby Lashley w/ The Hurt Syndicate VS Joe Keys & Cheeseburger!
The All Mighty thought he’d have an easy night getting in a little warm-up, but The Realest quickly reminded him why he’s the most dangerous man in AEW! Lashley’s now doubling down to make a point, will there be nothing left of Keys & Cheese after tonight?
The bell rings and while the fans rally for Cheeseburger, he and Keys each argue the other should start. Lashley runs up and TOSSES Burger across the ring! Keys runs away, Lashley runs to RAM into Burger! Lashley brings Burger up, Keys runs in, but Lashley catches him for a COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO! Lashley drags Keys up and TOSSES him out! Lashley then turns to look at Burger in the corner. The fans rally for Burger, but Lashley CLOBBERS him! The fans boo but MVP & Shelton high-five Lashley. Lashley drags Burger up to gut wrench, Canadian Rack, and DOMINATOR! Keys runs in to break the cover!
The fans cheer Keys as he fires hands, but Lashley just gets angrier! Keys short arm LARIATS, but Lashley stays up! Keys runs, into a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Lashley storms around, then aims at Keys. Keys staggers into the SPEAR! Lashley isn’t done there, and he clamps on the HURT LOCK! Keys can’t open that lock, he is OUT! Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by submission
MVP & Shelton join Lashley in the ring to celebrate, but then “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” The fans fire up, and here comes Prince Nana with a chair! Nana eggs the Hurt Syndicate on so Shelton storms out after Nana. MVP watches the rest of ringside for Swerve, but Swerve slides out from under the ring! The fans fire up as Swerve slips in to CHAIN PUNCH Lashley!! MVP gets on the apron but Swerve DECKS MVP with a chain punch! And then Shelton eats a chain punch! The fans are thunderous as Swerve aims, and hits a HOUSE CALL on Lashley! Swerve hurries to the top rope, and he gives Lashley a KILL STOMP!!
The fans are thunderous as Swerve stands over Lashley! MVP & Shelton get up and get in, but Swerve escapes, chain draped on his neck! Will AEW then, now and forever be whose house? “SWERVE’S HOUSE!”
Backstage interview with Mariah May & Mina Shirakawa.
Renee is now with the AEW Women’s World Champion and her best friend, the Rev-Pro Undisputed British Women’s Champion. They are planning their Championship Champagne Celebration for Full Gear, BUT Friday Night Rampage will feature the two of them teaming up for the first time in just over a year. Mariah says no champion deserves a celebration more than her. Her rise to the top was meteoric, and her reign will be historic. She takes ish and makes it shine, any time and any show, against anyone. In Mariah’s division, you hold this title, or you die.
Mina says yes, Mariah has been working so hard. She came back to tell her she is so very proud. And Mina will give Mariah a celebration she’ll never forget! Mariah says the “H Cup Angel” (Mina) and the “Woman from Hell” (Mariah herself) are going to make Rampage into Glampage. Everyone wants Mina, but Mina wants Mariah. And then… They’ll dance! These two shimmy and shake their way out, will they finally be toasting their victories at Full Gear?
Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli w/ The Death Riders!
The Relentless One told The Swiss Superman that revenge was coming, and here is Darby’s chance! Will Darby avenge Bryan Danielson? Or will he just be the next to fall?
The bell rings and Darby stares Claudio down. Darby takes some deep breaths then circles with Claudio. Darby slips around to waistlock but Claudio flings him off, only for Darby to roll to his feet. They circle again, and the fans rally behind Darby. Darby and Claudio feel things out, tie up, and Darby headlocks. Claudio lifts Darby but Darby thrashes the hold. Claudio throws Darby off, runs up, but Darby uses that to get around and springboard arm-drag! The fans fire up while Claudio bails out, and Darby taunts Claudio with some drop steps. Claudio snarls, but then Darby fakes him out with a slingshot!
Claudio is annoyed and takes a swing but Darby slingshots up and over! Darby taunts Claudio again while the fans rally up. Claudio cools off before he storms up the steel steps. Claudio pops Darby up but Darby keeps from hitting buckles! Darby ELBOWS Claudio away, goes up, then leaps, but Claudio catches him! Claudio SLAMS Darby down, flips him back to his feet, but Darby slips around to waistlock. O’Conner Roll, TWO! Darby springboards to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Claudio bails out but the fans fire up. Darby goes up a corner, and he SUPER COFFIN SPLASHES into a waistlock! Claudio swings and THROWS Darby away!
Darby staggers to his feet but Claudio runs up, to POUNCE Darby into railing! Darby writhes against the railing, but Claudio runs up to UPPERCUT Darby up and over! Fans freak out as Darby hits the floor! Claudio leaves Darby behind while the ring count climbs, but Darby drags himself up at 7. Claudio goes back out after Darby to suplex! Claudio holds Darby up while he marches up the steps! The fans fire up for this feat of strength and balance, and then Claudio TOSSES Darby back into the ring! Darby writhes again while Claudio steps back in. Claudio stalks Darby, talks some trash, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Claudio looms over Darby, then deadlift gut wrenches for a GUTBUSTER! And then another GUTBUSTER! And then another GUTBUSTER! Darby writhes while Claudio stands over him again. Claudio watches Darby crawl towards a corner and stalks him. Claudio drags Darby up, brings him around, and ROCKS Darby with a forearm! Darby pushes Claudio, then CHOPS! Claudio DECKS Darby! Darby tumbles out of the ring! The ref wants Claudio to stay back while Darby drags himself up. Darby is back in before the count starts, but then Claudio DOUBLE STOMPS him! Claudio kicks Darby around, then clamps on with a neck wrench!
Darby endures, fights up, but Claudio powers him down. Darby BITES Claudio’s hand! The ref reprimands but Darby fires off forearms on Claudio. Claudio HIP TOSSES Darby up and out of the ring! Darby hits the floor and flounders around while the ref reprimands Claudio. Claudio again waits on Darby, and then he DOUBLE STOMPS Darby the moment he’s in! The ref counts as Claudio stands on Darby at the ropes. Claudio steps off at 4, brings him around, and clamps on an armlock and chinbar. Darby endures, fights around, and manages to fireman’s carry Claudio! But Claudio rains down elbows! HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL even!
Claudio clamps on with a double wristlock and he grinds Darby down. Darby still endures and the fans rally up again. Darby fights around and Dynamite returns to single picture. Darby fires body shots but Claudio knees low! Claudio then HIP TOSSES Darby into a corner! Darby tumbles out of the ring but Claudio pursues! Claudio SWINGS Darby into railing! Then Claudio fireman’s carries, to TOSS Darby back in the ring! Claudio storms in while Darby flounders away. Darby flops back out of the ring but Claudio pursues him again. Darby trips Claudio up and traps him in the apron skirt! Darby then fires forearms, and BITES Claudio’s ear!
The fans fire up but Claudio shoves Darby away. Darby slides into the ring then DIVES onto Claudio! And then runs to DIVE again! Down goes Claudio and the fans fire up! Darby crawls over to bring Claudio up and into the ring. The fans fire up as Darby climbs up a corner, though slowly given all the damage to his back. That lets Claudio trip Darby up! Darby is stuck up top, and Claudio climbs up after him. Claudio gut wrenches for a SUPER GUT WRENCH PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio can’t believe it! The fans fire up but Claudio calls for the swing! Claudio grabs the legs, but Darby twists to a victory roll! TWO!!
Claudio escapes and runs up, but Darby ducks ‘n’ dodges, roll and- WHOA, Claudio has to fight to stay up, and then he deadlifts Darby! Darby pops through to CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Darby and Claudio crawl for ropes. Claudio runs up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT again and again and again! The ref backs Claudio off, but then Claudio fires off body shots! Darby flops over but Claudio has the legs. Claudio FLIPS Darby up and over the ropes, but Darby lands on the apron! Claudio BOOTS Darby down! The ref wants Claudio to hold on but Claudio goes out after Darby.
Claudio drags Darby by his legs, then SWINGS him around! Into steel steps!! The fans lose their minds, the ref reprimands Claudio, but Claudio doesn’t care. The fans tell Claudio he is sick, but Claudio TOSSES Darby over the announce desk!! Schiavone, Excalibur & Matt Menard narrowly avoid becoming collateral damage! But Claudio clears the desk and brings Darby up. Claudio puts Darby on the desk, then stands over him. The ref reprimands but Claudio just ignores him. Claudio drags Darby up, and gorilla presses him! SUPER DUPER TOSS onto the timekeeper’s table!! The fans lose their minds as Darby is down but that table’s somehow still standing!
The ref checks on Darby but Claudio storms right over! The ref tells Claudio to stop so they go to the ring. Claudio lets the ring count start, and yet Darby somehow stirs at 4 of 10! The fans rally as hard as they can and Darby crawls his way over! Darby is still far away at 7! But then he powers up and LEAPS in at 9!! But Claudio LARIATS Darby inside-out!! Cover, Claudio wins!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall
Darby truly is relentless, with durability like no other, but it just wasn’t enough against the strength and brutality of Claudio! Will no one stop The Death Riders from running roughshod over AEW?
Backstage interview with Private Party.
Renee is with Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy and brings up that at Full Gear, the AEW World Tag Team Championships are on the line in a Fatal 4 Way. Private Party takes on The Acclaimed, The Outrunners and The Kings of the Black Throne. In such a match, the champs do NOT have to be pinned or submitted to lose their titles, so what is their strategy? Brother Zay says they obviously can’t tell her that, the other teams are watching. But it seems like the odds are against them. Fortunately, the odds have been against them their whole lives, their whole careers, just like against The Young Bucks.
But look what happened: Private Party defied the odds, beat The Bucks, and are your AEW World Tag Team Champions. That is the same thing that happens on Saturday. They leave Newark, New Jersey still your tag team champions. Because there ain’t no party like a Private Party, that’s a flex. Oh, speaking of! It’s AJ & Big Justice! They’re fired up to be here, but Justice wants to know what that face Zay made was last week. Oh, right, this one, with the chin scratching. And AJ says they’ve got a BIG announcement coming up after this! Maybe some double chunk chocolate cookies? BOOM!!
A green Porsche Taycan pulls up to the middle of nowhere.
And out steps MJF. The Wolf of Wrestling tells the hobo to “go get it” as he throws spare change off to the side like birdseed. MVP then sits back and tells Roderick Strong, “You’ve been through so much. The kid who grew up trailer park trash with two abusive alcoholic parents. For crying out loud! Your own mother shot your father right in front of you. That’s traumatizing. And as you know, Roddy, trauma is the result of an overwhelming sense of danger, powerlessness and fear. However, healing is a result of feeling safe, empowered and supported. That’s why you’d do anything for Cole. He makes you feel all those positive things that you lacked.
“It’s why I was no different than you. It’s why I trusted him. Unfortunately, the difference between you and I: Cole for me was a mirage of what I wanted him to be. A fraud, a liar. And whilst Cole is a fraud, I do actually believe deep down, in his narcissistic, sociopathic, frail, feeble frame, is a man who cares about Roderick Strong. This is precisely why upon further contemplation, I am happy you won, Roddy. Because I want Adam Cole to watch a person he cares about suffer! And because of your White trash upbringing, you aren’t intelligent enough to realize that you don’t have a prayer. And I’m sending you back to where you belong. To your grimy little trailer park.
“And after the match, you’ll be in so much physical anguish, you’ll wish your mother hadn’t shot your father, but instead shot you.” As if this scumbag couldn’t stoop any lower, he brings up Roddy’s past to hurt him. But will Roddy make sure MJF’s future is the one full of pain and suffering?
Backstage interview with AJ & Big Justice.
Renee is with the Costco Tiktok sensations and says that in the Full Gear Zero Hour, we will see #BigBoomAJ take on QT Marshall in a match 20 YEARS in the making. AJ says it may have been 20 years in the making for QT, this all started for AJ when QT threw the double chunk chocolate cookies down! Renee says AJ has not been in the ring in those 20 years, is he concerned about how his body will hold up? AJ isn’t worried about that, because he just has one strategy, and that’s the strategy they use each and every day. That strategy is to bring the BOOM~! But hey, there’s another special announcement.
Because when AJ rings QT’s bell, and he Power-Booms QT right in the middle of that ring, there is only one guy they want ringing the bell: Big Justice’s best friend, THE RIZZLER! Time to bring the BOOM~! Will QT be sleeping on the mat for The Rizzler? Will he be skibidi? Fanum Tax? Why are those even words?
Tony Schiavone is on stage.
And he welcomes out The Undisputed Kingdom! The fans cheer as Roderick Strong makes his way out, accompanied by Matt Taven & Mike Bennett. Schiavone brings up Roddy VS MJF at Full Gear, and we just heard all that disgusting stuff MJF had to say. Roddy’s response is that to be honest, he has not slept a wink since last week. IT is finally happening! Roddy feels like a kid on Christmas morning. He finally gets his hands on “MAAAAAX~!” The fans echo that, and Roddy says if MJF was here tonight, and not hiding out there, Roddy would ask him: Is Roddy supposed to be ashamed of his childhood?
Is Roddy supposed to be ashamed of his parents? You don’t think Roddy’s heard that stuff before? His whole LIFE, that is what people brought up! His mom’s an addict, his dad’s an addict, mom shot dad. Good job, Max, you made Roddy feel like he was in elementary school again. And people may look at Roddy’s past and feel sorry for him, but Roddy asks us not to. Because looking at MJF, Roddy feels sorry for him. Understand this, Max. With Roddy’s life, he learned that to get the most out of life, you have to earn it. If you wanna break the cycle, you have to earn it. And that is what Roddy’s done ever since he was a kid!
And now looking at MJF, he’s been spoon-fed everything. And when something doesn’t go his way or something happens and he doesn’t like it, MJF throws a temper tantrum like a baby until that changes. So Roddy wants MJF to do something for him: Look in the mirror and think about all the things that MJF has done to people. The manipulating, the backstabbing, the using. MJF needs to realize, when the bell rings at Full Gear, MJF will pay for all those sins. With every chop, with every punch, with every elbow, with every backbreaker! And when it is all over, Roddy walks to his hotel room for the best night of sleep in his life because he earned it.
Especially because Roddy will know he has broken MJF’s back, and left him humbled! Roddy is all fired up, and the fans are with him! Will MJF finally get what’s coming to him? Or will he give Roddy nightmares for the rest of his life?
AEW shares footage taken from last Saturday night.
First, a recap video of Daniel Garcia thwarting Jack Perry’s attempts to abduct and torture Matthew Menard, as well as the joyride they took in the Scapegoat bus, with Perry as the hood ornament. And now, they have Perry strapped into a chair, the bus headlights as the only source of light. Menard is behind the camera as he asks Perry how he’s feeling. How’d that work out for him, huh? Garcia splashes Perry with water to wake him up, and says “Let’s have a conversation. I’m all ears.” Perry chuckles and says Garcia thinks he’s so much better than him. Look at where they are! Garcia shouts back that he doesn’t wanna be here!
Garcia just wants to wrestle, but AEW is full of savages! Perry tried to take Daddy Magic’s life! And those in power just sit back and watch, pretending that nothing’s going on. So what do they do? Gotta take the power back, right? Perry counters with, “Everybody’s got a code. Everybody cares about right and wrong until it costs them something. Until they have to SACRIFICE!” Garcia gets in Perry’s face, grabs him by the mouth, and says Perry’s always going on about sacrifice but Perry has no idea what Garcia’s had to go through! Perry has NO idea what Garcia’s had to sacrifice to be here!
Garcia knows where Perry wants him to go, but Garcia promises that he’s never gonna go there. Perry smirks, then SPITS in Garcia’s face. Garcia wipes that off his face and says bet. Garcia’s got something for Perry, so just wait right there. Garcia goes to the bus while Perry mockingly asks what he’s gonna do. Menard tells shut up, Jack! Life must be so hard for him! What’s Jack got to be sad about?! Garcia comes back and he has a crowbar! Perry dares him to go ahead. Garcia raises the bar, but he SMASHES up the bus! Garcia throws the crowbar away and Perry laughs. Is that it? Garcia tells Menard they’ll get out of here. What? Where’s Garcia going?
Perry says yeah, walk away. Menard tells Perry that Garcia’s gonna whoop his ass! Just wait! Menard leaves, Perry shouts into the night, but will The Face of TNT soon be the one sacrificed for the greater good?
Renee Paquette presides over the ROH World Championship contract signing.
She welcomes us backstage to the signing for this match, which will happen next week, Dynamite: Thanksgiving Eve, in Chicago. The challenger, Tomohiro Ishii, is on her left, and the champion, Chris Jericho, is on her right. Jericho, as champion, you have the honors to sign first. Jericho smiles and waves as he says, “Hi, guys.” But Renee, you should know better. A champion of Jericho’s caliber does not just sign a contract thrust at his face randomly. He has a whole legal team that needs to approve this contract. Renee says it was sent to said legal team last week. Oh, really? What about today? The now! Jericho lives in the now!
Jericho says he’ll get this checked by his legal eagles one more time. But for now, wait here. Choto matte kudesai. Jericho steps around the corner and then down the hall. He smiles at his own picture on the wall. What a good looking guy. But wait, Ishii has followed Jericho to the hall. Jericho is a bit worried as he keeps moving. Jericho tries to block Ishii’s path but a trash can isn’t enough. Jericho tells staffers that Ishii wants to talk to them. They step in the way but Ishii pushes them aside. Jericho moves faster, pushes more people in the way, but Ishii pushes them aside. Was that RJ City?
Jericho goes up some stairs but Ishii follows. Ishii’s even gaining ground! Jericho goes through a doorway and ends up in the concourse! Fans cheer as Jericho and Ishii keep up their cat ‘n’ mouse game. Jericho decides to go into the stands! Ishii follows, and they head down the bleachers towards ringside! Jericho hurries over railing but so does Ishii. They go into the ring, and now Jericho tells Ishii to stop following him! Jericho wants a mic, a mic is brought, and Jericho says hey, listen, Ishii. Jericho would sign this contract, but he doesn’t have a pen. Ishii has a pen! Oh. Ishii clicks it for Jericho, and pushes it into him.
Jericho takes the pen, looks at the contract again, and still hesitates. Jericho signs his part, and then hands things over to Ishii. But then BRYAN KEITH & BIG BILL ATTACK! It was all a massive set-up! Bad Apple & Redwood beat down Stone Pitbull, and then sit him up! Jericho has the pen ready, but here comes The Conglomeration! Mark Briscoe & Rocky Romero rush in, and Mark TACKLES Jericho! Rocky fires off on Bill while Mark CHOKES Jericho! Keith saves Jericho from Mark but Mark fires hands on Keith! The fans fire up, but then Bill SKYSCRAPER- NO, Mark UPPERCUTS Bill first! Rocky adds on!
The fans fire up as The Conglomeration pinballs Bill, and then Ishii CLOBBERS him! Bill tumbles out, but Rocky DIVES! Bill is sent into railing! Keith stands up, into a kick and underhooks! JAY DRILLER! Jericho stands up, Ishii has him, and hits a BRAINBUSTER!! Conglomeration stands tall over The Learning Tree and his Branches, and now Ishii signs his part! The match is now official, and Ishii is looking to take a bite out of Jericho! Will The Conglomeration have the ROH World Championship to be thankful for this year?
Backstage interview with Jamie Hayter.
Renee is with the former AEW Women’s World Champion and notes that last time, we were going to hear from her, only for her to be interrupted by Julia Hart. What is Hayter’s reaction to that? Well, yeah, she isn’t angry, but she is baffled why Julia chose to interrupt Hayter. They’ve never really spoken or interacted, or even wrestled each other. Hayter is just curious as to why Julia felt it was okay to do that. Granted, Julia can do whatever she wants, Hayter moves to the beat of her own drum just as much as Julia. But… if Julia wants to have a chat-
Uh oh, something is happening to the video! Brody King’s message echoes, “It’s time to come home.” Julia Hart walks through the woods. Brody says The House is her foundation. She has seen her rebirth. Now it is time to rebuild. She has woken up stronger, more determined, and more dangerous than ever. Julia aims her arrow to shoot down a target: her past self. Her obstacles are just bull’s eyes. She is the Princess of the Black Throne, and the Keeper of Secrets. She is Julia Hart, and her heart grows harder. She hits her mark, but will she find Hayter Hits Hard?
Orange Cassidy VS Wheeler Yuta!
Freshly Squeezed has been accused of being coldblooded and uncaring, but he got pretty heated as he told The Conglomeration to keep themselves safe tonight. He goes 1v1 with The Decoder, a young man who was once Cassidy’s student, and who left him behind to join the then Blackpool Combat Club. If anyone is uncaring, it is Yuta with how he would then follow Jon Moxley’s lead in the destruction of Bryan Danielson and Chuck Taylor. Who will be the more ferocious fighter tonight, this close to Full Gear?
The bell rings and Yuta SHOTGUNS Cassidy! Yuta follows Cassidy to a corner to CHOP, then ROCK, then CHOP again! Yuta whips corner to corner but Cassidy goes up and out. Cassidy bumps Yuta off buckles, climbs up top, but has to leap over. Yuta comes back but Cassidy catches him to a backslide! TWO, but Cassidy reels Yuta in for a cradle! TWO! Yuta pulls on an ear! But Cassidy arm-drags and wrangles Yuta into the SEATBELT! TWO!! Yuta escapes and the fans fire up as these two stand off. Yuta huffs ‘n’ puffs, but Cassidy shows he wants a grapple. They feel things out, knuckle lock, but Cassidy blocks a kick!
Cassidy reels Yuta in for a headlock, but Yuta powers up and out. Cassidy ducks ‘n’ rolls, tilt-o-whirls, but Yuta suplexes! Into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Yuta tumbles out and fans fire up! Cassidy builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Yuta and the fans fire up again! Cassidy brings Yuta up, whips, but Yuta reverses to reel Cassidy in! Cassidy fights the suplex, but then Yuta fights a suplex. Yuta suplexes, to RAILING BRAINBUSTER!! Cassidy writhes and fans are stunned! Yuta stomps Cassidy, then leaves him behind for the ring count. Cassidy crawls into the ring, Yuta exposes a crossbar, and then he GRINDS Cassidy’s face into the steel!
The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Yuta steps off at 4. Cassidy seethes as he rises up, but Yuta has him at the corner. Cassidy kicks Yuta’s legs out and Yuta falls onto a turnbuckle! Yuta falls back, Cassidy climbs, but Yuta grabs Cassidy first! Yuta drags Cassidy down but Cassidy fires hands. Yuta squeezes the facelock tight, then hits an APRON DDT! The fans boo Yuta while Cassidy writhes, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Cassidy clutches his neck while Yuta waits in the ring. A ring count starts and Yuta eggs Cassidy on. Cassidy reaches up as the count reaches 5 of 10, but he doesn’t sit up until 6. Cassidy hobbles up, stumbles and falls, but springs back to life! He slides in at 9! Only for Yuta to be right on him! Yuta reels Cassidy in, but Cassidy turns that into BEACH BREAK! Cover, TWO!! Yuta survives but Cassidy is too sore to be frustrated. They both sit up, and Yuta crawls his way over to a corner. Cassidy rises, checks his neck, then runs up, but into an ELBOW! Yuta goes up, but Cassidy JUMP FOREARMS! Cassidy positions Yuta just right before he climbs the corner.
Yuta resists but Cassidy still brings Yuta up. Yuta continues to fight the suplex, throws body shots, then shoves Cassidy down. Cassidy rolls back to his feet, runs back up the corner, but Yuta again fights the suplex! Cassidy fires hands, but Yuta fires back! They brawl up top, Cassidy HEADBUTTS Yuta! But Yuta HEADBUTTS back! They both wobble, but then Cassidy BITES Yuta! The ref reprimands, but Cassidy CLAWS Yuta’s back! This is very Moxley of him to do! And then Cassidy hits the SUPERPLEX! Both men are down and the ref checks. They’re both okay to continue, so a standing count begins!
Cassidy sits up, spots Yuta, and heads that way. Yuta sits up, they fire forearms as they stand! Dynamite returns to single picture as these shots go back and forth. The fans fire up for Cassidy but boo Yuta as the shots go faster and faster! Yuta BITES Cassidy’s forehead! Yuta spits then runs, but Cassidy dodges! BODY BLOW! SUPERKICK! Yuta sits down, Cassidy runs, PENALTY KICK! Cassidy slashes his throat, hauls Yuta up, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Yuta survives but Cassidy seethes. Cassidy rains down fists on Yuta! The ref reprimands about closed fists and hair pulling, but Cassidy doesn’t stop until the ref counts 4.
Cassidy stands, and he throws off the elbow pad! Cassidy aims at Yuta, runs up, but Yuta ducks the punch! GERMAN SUPLEX! Yuta runs to CHOP in the corner! And then a wrench and PAIN THRILLER! The fans boo while Yuta seethes and stands over Cassidy. Yuta sits Cassidy up, for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! But Cassidy blocks one! And bends fingers, to then SNAP them! The fans fire up as Cassidy SNAPS finger after finger! Yuta swings, Cassidy BOOTS him, then serves up SOLE FOOD! Scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Cassidy is busting out all his best friends’ best moves, but he hasn’t gotten it done!
Cassidy aims, loads up, and ORANGE- NO, Yuta ducks! Orange fights the suplex, switches to O’Conner Roll! TWO, Yuta dodges Cassidy, scoops him, and CROSS LEG TOMBSTONE!! Cover, TWO?!? Cassidy survives and Yuta is furious! The fans are thunderous, but Yuta rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Cassidy grits his teeth but he’s almost a ragdoll! Yuta lets off to then hook the arms, CATTLE MUTILATION!! Cassidy endures as Yuta thrashes him around! Cassidy powers up as the fans rally, and he kicks around to the ROPEBREAK!! Yuta holds on, the ref counts, and Yuta finally lets go at 4!
The ref reprimands Yuta, but Yuta pushes past the ref to go outside the ring. Yuta grabs a chair! Yuta storms into the ring while the fans boo, and the ref says don’t do it! Cassidy dodges the chair shot! Victory roll, CASSIDY WINS!!
Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall
Yuta is in disbelief! Cassidy beat him with a technical move! Yuta snarls but the ref keeps him back. Cassidy did what he promised in beating Yuta, but then he stares his former student down. Is Cassidy going to offer a handshake? WAIT, PAC ATTACKS! The Bastard BOOTS Cassidy down so we’ll never know what Cassidy was going to do! The fans boo more but Pac & Yuta stand on Cassidy. The rest of the Death Riders appear, and Marina Shafir has duct tape! The AEW World Trios Champions stomp away on Cassidy, like vultures picking the bones. Moxley steps into the ring while Marina hands the tape over to Pac.
Claudio puts Cassidy’s hands in his pockets, and then Pac tapes them in! Cassidy is physically bound, and Moxley paces around. Cassidy is pushed around by all the Death Riders, then Moxley DECKS him! Claudio hauls Cassidy back up, the Death Riders keep bullying him, and then Moxley SLAPS Cassidy down! But the bullying continues as they stand Cassidy up. Cassidy “kicks” Moxley! Defiant to the end! But Moxley DECKS him again! Moxley paces around more, then stomps Cassidy right on the face! Moxley leads The Death Riders away, and The Conglomeration finally comes out here.
Mark has scissors to cut Cassidy loose, and the fans boo as The Death Riders still retreat. Cassidy tries to stand up, but he has to use ropes to do it. Even so, Cassidy stands on his own two feet. Moxley eggs on the fans while Cassidy puts his sunglasses on. And then hands up, and then into the pockets! Try as they might, The Death Riders could not break the Freshly Squeezed fighting spirit! Will Cassidy finally become AEW World Champion? Or will Moxley find a way to break Cassidy at Full Gear?
My Thoughts:
A great go-home Dynamite here, though it felt like it contracted Go Home Syndrome. A lot of recap and other promos, but good promos all the same. Good follow-up from last week with Hayter and Hart, that will probably really get going after Full Gear. Good promo from Mariah & Mina to hype up their celebration segment for Full Gear, and with Toni Storm’s announcement of her retirement, you can bet Toni is anything but retired! Toni Storm most assuredly will return very soon, maybe even to ruin the celebration and spark another feud. I still want us to get to Mariah VS Mina but maybe Storm moves things back so that Mariah VS Mina happens in 2025.
Good promo from Private Party to also have AJ & Big Justice show up. The promos didn’t really add much to any of the matches, though. I’m very sure AJ does hit the BOOM on QT to win, and then Private Party finds a way to survive the Fatal 4. Great stuff with Perry, Garcia and Menard, that was another very action movie kind of promo, maybe even like that grittier Batman movie. But with Garcia not sinking to the same lows as Perry, that will be why Garcia loses. Honestly, why not just have Perry blatantly get himself disqualified? What great heat for Perry while keeping Garcia strong in not becoming TNT Champion.
Great promos in this MJF story. I appreciate Cole throwing his support behind Roddy was good, as well as Kyle O’Reilly wanting Cole to just leave it at this. MJF of course insults Roddy over his past while also trashing Cole at the same time, but great response from Roddy. Also I’m not a car guy so it took me a little too long to Google out what car MJF was driving. Anyway, given all these promos, I am very confident MJF wins at Full Gear and then Cole still wants after MJF, only for Kyle to have to fight Cole to make him stop. Then we’ll maybe get Cole VS MJF at Worlds End, or even some time in 2025.
Very good stuff with The Hurt Syndicate, even with them getting jumped by Swerve. Poor Cheeseburger, that’s one fan favorite that got fed to Bobby Lashley. But Swerve getting the better of the Hurt Syndicate again and again tonight, all the more reason Lashley wins at Full Gear. Very good promo vignette from White and Hangman to hype up their grudge match, which still feels it could go either way since they’re tied on the year. And Jericho and Ishii had perhaps simultaneously the most clever and most ridiculous contract signing segment ever. And of course Jericho worked out some sort of trap, only for it to go badly for him and his team. But with that, that means Ishii is losing next week, as I figured he would.
Awesome opening match with the 8 Man, and I liked that they had Hobbs do the “fighting through the pain” angle in the match. Also, great bit with Kyle Fletcher sending Davis into harm’s way so that the Callis Family can get the better of Ospreay’s team. I thought the Faces were going to win here, but the math now says Ospreay finds a way to beat Kyle, and maybe Ricochet takes the International Championship from Konosuke Takeshita. The Continental Classic is coming, and they could easily use that round robin to get Konosuke back to a feud with Kazuchika Okada and they battle for the Continental Championship at Worlds End like we should’ve gotten at WrestleDream.
Awesome match from Kris VS Shida, and I appreciate the crisis of confidence for Shida. Kris gets a great win to go into Full Gear, and then Kris and Shida get the better of Mone & Kamille, so all the more reason Mone finds a way to survive. As for Kamille, I feel like she should ditch Mone for being treated like crap by Mone, and maybe we can get a feud of Mone VS Kamille going into 2025. And of course, plenty of promos from Death Riders and “Team AEW” members. Moxley just kinda went on and on about stuff he’s already said in reference to Cassidy, but I did like Claudio going bilingual in talking trash on Darby.
Awesome matches from those stories, of course. Darby really got thrown around but he continues to show that toughness. Claudio getting the win mostly keeps Darby back so that Darby can build towards a world title match at Worlds End. Cassidy VS Yuta was great stuff, too, with great back and forth of Cassidy wanting to end it quick, having to grit it out with Yuta, and then Cassidy still finding a way to end it with a quick pin. And they did a good job muddying the math. Cassidy wins the match, but the Death Riders beat him down, only for Cassidy to literally stand tall at the end of the show. I still don’t see him taking the world title from Moxley, though, with Darby still in the wings, but this could end up Cassidy’s best match yet.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Will this be the mightiest Tag League yet?
It’s time for NJPW World Tag League 2024, and this year already looks mighty good as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Zack Sabre Jr, is in the A Block! Will he and Ryohei Oiwa make everyone #JustTapOut?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Shoma Kato VS Masatora Yasuda; Kato wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jado & Katsuya Murashima VS Taiji Ishimori & The Filip Brothers; Taiji & The Filip Brothers win.
- Six Man Tag: Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Tiger Mask VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, Douki & Taka Michinoku VS The United Empire; Taichi, Douki & Taka win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; Cobb & Callum win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi; Takagi & Tsuji win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens; Bishamon wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA; ZSJ & Oiwa win.
PLAY BY PLAY
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman!
The Roughneck is bringing Everyone’s Kokeshi along for the ride, but this league might already be too much to handle. Can Honma help Shota bring about his Paradigm Shift? Or will they just get conquered by the United Empire?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against The Imperial Unit. The bell rings and Shota runs up to RAM Cobb! And RAM! And RAM! Cobb stays up so Shota kicks low. Shota runs to RAM Cobb, but Cobb rebounds to CLOBBER Shota! The fans cheer while Cobb stalks Shota. Cobb brings Shota up to whip him to a corner. Shota comes back to RAM Cobb! Cobb stays up, so Shota clinches! Cobb fights free with elbows, but Shota dodges a lariat to RAM Cobb! Cobb falls over! The fans fire up with Shota, and he brings Cobb up again. Callum runs in so Shota shoves Cobb aside to catch Callum. Shota shoves Callum at Honma for a shoulder tackle!
The fans fire up as Shota keeps moving and he SOMERSAULT SENTONS Callum! Shota then sets up so he and Honma can tabletop Cobb! Cobb sits up into Shota’s SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Shota tags Honma. The fans rally behind Honma as he CLUBS Cobb. Honma reels Cobb in, but Cobb suplexes first! Cobb SLAMS Honma down, then calls for Callum. Callum rises but Cobb says hold on. The “Cobby Cat” mocks Honma by bopping himself on the head. Cobb then runs to FALLING KOKESHIÂ FLOP! Honma winds up and runs, but Callum is in the way! Cobb runs up, Honma dodges the lariat but Callum tags in.
Cobb dodges Honma, then shoves him at Callum. They pinball Honma around, and Callum BOOTS Honma while Cobb BLASTS Shota! Then Callum & Cobb coordinate to HIGH LOW with a shoulder tackle and leg sweep! The fans cheer and Cobb says You Can’t See Him! Callum stomps Honma, then KICKS him in the back. Honma gets mad but Callum scuffs him again and again. Honma rises, CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Callum CHOPS and pretends that hurt his hand. Callum CLUBS Honma down but the fans rally up. Honma rises to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Callum kicks low, reels him in, but Honma fights the suplex!
Honma catches Callum’s lariat to spin and DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Callum and Honma crawl, but Honma hot tags Shota! Shota rallies on Callum with big elbows! Shota whips, Callum reverses, but SHota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Callum! Cobb runs up, but Shota arm-drags him, then dropkicks the legs out! Cobb bails, Shota fires up, and the fans rally again. Shota whips Callum corner to corner, runs up on him, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Callum in for a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t let that slow him down!
Shota waits on Callum, then runs, but Callum avoids Ignition to hook Shota! Shota fights the backslide so Callum whips him to a corner. Callum runs up but Shota dodges! Shota runs up but Callum goes up and over! Callum keeps moving, but Shota ROCKS him, UPPERCUTS him, and runs! Callum follows to ROCK Shota at the ropes! Callum runs, but then stops to fake out Shota’s dropkick! Shota sits up, but he ducks the Penalty Kick! Shota rolls Callum but Callum rolls through. Shota ROCKS Callum, then spins, but Callum dodges the rolling elbow! DREAMCAST KICK! Shota drops to his knees and the fans fire up!
Callum and Shota crawl, hot tag to Cobb! Cobb runs up to waistlock Shota for a deadlift! Shota fights with elbows, goes to run, but Cobb reels him in for a forearm to the back! Cobb runs, but Shota DROPKICKS him! The fans fire up again and Shota heads for his corner. Hot tag to Honma! The fans rally as Honma CHOPS Cobb, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Honma puts Cobb in a corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs up. Honma ELBOWS Cobb and hits a BULLDOG! The fans fire up as Honma shows Cobb how it’s done! FALLING KOKESHI- NO! Now Honma FLOPS as Cobb moves! Callum runs up to SHOTGUN Shota off the apron!
The fans fire up as Cobb RAMS Honma into the corner! Callum runs up to forearm SMASH! Callum drops down and Cobb LEAPS over to ELBOW Honma! Callum comes back and Cobb pops him up to the apron! ENZIGIRI, then fireman’s carry! Callum climbs, DOUBLE STOMP ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! PENALTY KICK and GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, Shota breaks it! The fans fire up and Shota TOSSES Callum! Cobb kicks Shota, whips, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! Shota shouts to Honma and the fans fire up again. Honma rises and he storms up on Cobb. Honma & Shota double whip corner to corner!
Honma runs up to LARIAT! Honma feeds Cobb to Shota’s UPPERCUT! Honma LARIATS, Shota clinches, EXPLODER!! The fans cheer and Honma runs, SLIDING KOKESHI! Shota keeps moving, IGNITION! Honma covers, Callum breaks it! Shota stomps Callum out of the ring and leaves the rest to Honma. Honma drags Cobb up, but Cobb fights the suplex! Cobb ROCKS Honma, whips him, but Honma grabs ropes! Honma BOOTS Cobb, and Shota joins in! DOUBLE RUNNING KOKESHI! And then they DOUBLE FALLING KOKESHI! Cover, TWO!! Cobb survives but Shota goes after Callum! CANNONBALL to the floor!
The fans fire up again as Honma climbs! FLYING- NO, Cobb catches Honma! SPINEBUSTER, and FALLING HAMMER! Cover, TWO!! Honma survives and the fans fire up again! But then Cobb reels Honma in, for a TOUR OF THE ISLAND!! Cover, United Empire wins!
Winners: Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Shota & Honma earn 0)
A powerful showing from “The Kokeshi Brothers,” but they could not bring down Callum & Cobb. With the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships already on Great-O-Khan & Henare, will The United Empire completely dominate the NJPW Heavyweight Tag Division?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS Alex Zayne & ???
Los Ingobernables de Japon’s heavy formation is in this block, ready to rampage like twin dragons. If only The Sauce could’ve brought his own monster back. Who will be the substitute for Lance Archer? And can he help heat things up?
Zayne makes his entrance before anyone else, and asks to speak on the mic. A mic is given, and Zayne says, “Kon’nichiwa.” The fans applaud, and Zayne explains that when he was contacted this year for WTL, he was also informed that Lance Archer could not make it. Zayne knew he had to do one thing: find the most “delicious” tag partner he could find. And that man is… RYUSUKE TAGUCHI!? The fans can’t believe the Funky Weapon is joining Zayne in this tournament! And he wears a green version of Zayne’s gear! Are things about to get really spicy now?
The teams sort out, and Takagi is in disbelief. LIJ fist bumps and the fans applaud. Taguchi and Zayne bow, “Itadakimasu,” and Zayne starts against Yota. They circle, tie up, and Yota powers Zayne back. But Zayne powers Yota back! Yota powers up to power Zayne onto the ropes, but Zayne turns things around. The ref counts, Zayne lets off slowly with a pat on the shoulders, but Yota plays with Zayne’s hair. Zayne smirks and Yota grins as the two reset. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Yota headlocks, but Zayne powers up and out. Yota RAMS Zayne but neither man falls. Fans cheer as Yota grins and Zayne plays with his own hair.
Things speed up suddenly, and Zayne sidesteps. Yota bucks the O’Conner Roll, then gets around Zayne. Zayne ELBOWS Yota away to a corner. Zayne runs up to BACK ELBOW and go to the apron in one go! Then he slingshots to RANA! Yota has a rough tumble, but he stands back up. Zayne runs up again, dodges the lariat and waistlocks, only to bring Yota back and run. Yota sidesteps Zayne then drops down, only for Zayne to IMPLODER KNEE DROP! The fans fire up but Zayne keeps moving, STANDING MARIPOSA! The fans cheer more while Zayne grins at Takagi. Zayne brings Yota up, tags Taguchi, and they double whip.
“Funky Sauce” misdirects Yota to hit a BULLDOG then basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Taguchi stomps Yota. Taguchi brings Yota up, kicks low, then whips. Yota reverses but Taguchi RANAS! A little slippery, but then Zayne BLASTS Takagi off the apron! Funky Sauce takes aim, Taguchi PLANCHASÂ but flops as Yota moves! Zayne is on the apron but Takagi YANKS Zayne down! The fans rally but Takagi hauls Zayne up to whip him into railing! Yota drags Taguchi up and puts him in the ring. Takagi gets the fans fired up, then he stands Taguchi up. LIJ double whip Taguchi to then DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE!
The fans cheer and then Takagi SENTONS! Yota SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO! Taguchi stays in this but Yota tags Takagi. The fans rally and duel while Takagi stands Taguchi up. Takagi bumps Taguchi off buckles, RAMS into him again and again, then digs his shoulder in. The ref counts, Takagi steps back, and he snapmares Taguchi down. Tag to Yota and Yota drags Taguchi up. Yota snapmares Taguchi to ROCK him in the back! Taguchi falls back, Yota tags Takagi, and LIJ drags Taguchi up. They DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! Taguchi hobbles in pain, falls to his knees, and Takagi BLASTS Zayne off the apron!
Takagi gets annoyed with this Funky Sauce, but Taguchi fires off CHOPS! Taguchi runs, but Takagi easily dodges the hip attack! Takagi then suplexes Taguchi high and hard! Cover, TWO! Taguchi survives and the fans fire up. Takagi hears the fans dueling as he stomps Taguchi. Takagi KNEES Taguchi against the ropes again and again, then whips, for another KNEE! Takagi runs, but into a SOMERSAULT HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taguchi and Takagi crawl, hot tag to Zayne! Zayne jumps in and DECKS Takagi, then he BLASTS Yota! Zayne swats a lariat to fire elbow after ELBOW!
Takagi blocks the superkick to CLUB the leg! Yota joins in, LIJ whips Zayne, but Zayne KICKS Takagi, mule kicks Yota, and runs, DOUBLE SOMERSAULT KICKS! The fans fire up and Zayne runs at Takagi. Takagi ELBOWS Zayne, BOOTS him, then goes up. Zayne returns to JUMPING STEINERS! The fans fire up while Zayne covers, TWO! Takagi stays in this but Zayne brings him right up. Zayne goes to scoop but Takagi fights it! Zayne CHOPS, scoops, and BAJA- NO, Takagi slips free! SLIDING- NO, Zayne dodges! Zayne mule kicks, runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKONÂ feint and DDT! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up!
Takagi pounds the mat, the fans rally behind him, and he crawls, hot tag to Yota! Yota fires up and the fans are with him. Yota brings Zayne around to whip, but Zayne stops himself. Zayne dodges Yota, Yota dodges Zayne, and both men kick low! Yota comes back to BOOT! The fans cheer and Yota brings Zayne up again. Yota fireman’s carries but Zayne fights free. Yota ROCKS Zayne first! Yota tries another fireman’s carry but Zayne sunset flips it! TWO, and both men stand! Zayne rolls Yota, BASEMENT ENZIGIRI! Zayne hurries to hot tag Taguchi! Taguchi HIP ATTACKS in a corner! Taguchi goes corner to corner, for another HIP ATTACK!
Taguchi keeps moving, but Yota runs up! Taguchi dropkicks Yota’s legs out! The fans fire up and Taguchi keeps going! Another dropkick to legs, then a LEG SWEEP! Taguchi rolls Yota into the OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Zayne BOOTS Takagi off the apron! Yota scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi lets go but he brings Yota back up. Taguchi traps Yota and Zayne runs in to ELBOW! Zayne then sets up and Taguchi runs, SHOTGUN IN MOTION! Taguchi then brings Yota out to GOURD BUSTER! The fans fire up as Zayne climbs! But Yota KICKS Taguchi away, then GAMANGIRIS Zayne off the corner!
Taguchi kicks Yota, runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Takagi slides in, and he finds the camera, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has come, and they join in on a chant of “OI! OI! OI!” LIJ whips Taguchi to a corner, then Yota runs in to ELBOW! Takagi whips Yota back in to SPLASH! Takagi adds a LARIAT, then feeds Taguchi to a BOOT! BLINDSIDE LARIAT! SUPERKICK! Taguchi is down, Yota covers, TWO! Taguchi stays in this and the fans fire up. Takagi stands Taguchi up and throws him to Yota for a POWERBOMB! Cover, Zayne breaks it! Takagi drags Zayne up, LIJ mugs him, but he fights back with CHOPS!
The fans fire up but Yota spins Zayne around to facelock, and Takagi wheelbarrows. Yota helps Takagi swing Taguchi down, then up for a BOOSTED WHEELBARROW GERMAN!! The fans fire up and Takagi leaves it to Yota. Yota takes aim and the fans rally. Taguchi rises, Yota runs in, GENE- LEG DROP!? And then La Magistrol! TWO!! Yota escapes in time, but Taguchi spins him to a backslide! TWO!! Yota escapes again! But Taguchi ENZIGIRIS! Taguchi fires up and the fans are with him! But Takagi LARIATS! GENE TRIGGER! PUMPING BOMBER!! And now Yota loads up, for the GENE BLASTER!! Cover, LIJ wins!
Winners: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Zayne & Taguchi earn 0)
The Funky Sauce was hot, but they’re the ones that got burned! Will they be able to spice things up in the second round? Will Takagi & Tsuji keep the tag league tranquilo?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens!
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi once again clash with The Fang & The Jewel, both sides hungry for gold. Will it be Lights Out in the opening round? Or will someone just #Go2Sleep?
The teams sort out but then Bullet Club just attacks! Chase is after Goto and Kenta is after Hashi, and they put each man in corners. The bell rings to get this on record as Kenta TOSSES Hashi. Chase CHOKES Goto in the corner, then stands on him! The ref reprimands and Chase lets off to bring Goto up. Chase ROCKS Goto, whips him, and Kenta POSTS Hashi! Chase hits a big hip toss then covers, TWO! The fans rally up while Chase stomps Goto’s leg. Chase scrapes his sole off Goto’s face, and Kenta whips Hashi again. Hashi reverses and Kenta hits railing in front of English commentary! Chase ROCKS Goto, CHOPS him, then whips.
Goto grabs ropes to stop, then he BOOTS Chase! Hashi returns and Bishamon DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Then ZENMAI! Kenta returns but Bishamon kicks him first. “Se no!” Bishamon BEATS Kenta like a drum! The fans cheer and Bishamon flexes. Goto then goes back to Chase to stomp and CLUB him down. Goto kicks Chase, Chase shoves Goto and ROCKS him with a forearm! Goto knees Chase low, runs, but Chase TOSSES Goto out! Goto hurries back up, he counter punches Chase, and then counter punches Kenta! Chase slips out to YANK Goto down and THROW him into railing! Kenta intercepts Hashi with a kick!
Kenta whips Hashi away into railing while Chase sends Goto into other railing! The ref reprimands but Chase brings Goto through the gate. Chase has fans move out of the way, but then brings Goto back to ringside. Chase grins as he trolls the fans and pushes Goto into the ring. Kenta CLUBS away on Hashi before leaving him behind. Chase pulls on Goto’s arms then TWEAKS Goto’s neck! Not a twist, but equally painful. Chase tags Kenta while the fans rally for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” Kenta pushes Goto into the corner, Goto hits Chase, but Kenta RAMS Goto! The ref reprimands and counts as Kenta RAMS Goto more!
Kenta sits Goto down, and digs his boot in! The ref counts, Kenta stops at 4, and he tags Chase back in. They stomp Goto more, then Chase headlocks for a sucker punch! Cover, TWO! Chase drags Goto up and he bumps Goto off Kenta’s boot. Tag to Kenta and Bullet Club double whips. They DOUBLE ELBOW Goto down then Kenta covers, TWO! Kenta covers again, TWO! Kenta argues with the ref but the count was fair. Kenta drops an elbow, drops another elbow, then covers, TWO! Kenta gets mad at Hashi for no reason, but the fans rally up for Goto. Kenta CLUBS Goto, but Goto fires CHOPS in return!
Kenta knees low, whips Goto to a corner, but Goto reverses. Goto runs up but into a BOOT! Kenta runs but Goto follows! Goto avoids Chase’s cheap shot to LARIAT Kenta! The fans fire up while Goto and Kenta are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Hashi! The fans fire up as Hahsi BLASTS Chase! Kenta kicks Hashi low then whips him to a corner. Kenta runs up but Hashi CHOPS in return! And mule kicks! And turns Kenta for a NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Hashi watches Kenta. Hashi waits on Kenta to rise, then runs up to CHOP! Hashi hoists Kenta up to hang him out to dry! The fans fire up as Hashi runs, and he DROPKCISK Kenta down! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer Hashi on as he brings Kenta up. Hashi reels Kenta in, lifts, but Kenta fights with fists! Kenta slips free of the bomb, then slips around Hashi to spin and- NO, Hashi suplexes first! But Kenta slips free again, and he spins Hashi around, to SPIKE DDT! Hashi is stood up on his head before falling over, and Kenta tags in Chase. Chase brings Hashi up and fireman’s carries. Hashi fights free of that, but Chase slips around to half nelson, lift, and SWINGING FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives but Chase says time to end this! Chase takes aim, C- NO, Hashi dodges the trigger! Chase knees low, runs, but Hashi dropkicks the legs!
The fans fire up whiel both men are down! Chase clutches his leg while Hashi crawls. Hot tag to Goto! Goto runs at Chase to LARIAT in the corner! Goto whips corner to corner, runs up again, but Chase BOOTS him! But Goto comes back! Only for Chase to BUCKLE SHOT and STO, then SENTON! Kenta steps in and Bullet Club drags Goto up. But Goto fires forearms and CHOPS! Kenta SOBATS! Chase KICKS! Kenta ROUNDHOUSES! Goto sits up into the “I HATE YOU!” PENALTY KICK! Cover, but Hashi breaks it! Kenta TOSSES Hashi then goes out after him. Chase drags Goto up and reels him in.
Chase tucks the arms but Goto fights the lift! Goto wrenches out but Chase ROCKS him first! Chase runs, Goto follows, but Chase ENZIGIRIS! Goto stays up, but the C-TRIGGER hits! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives but Chase hurries up! C-TRIGGER POINT BLANK!! And then the tuck for the PACKAGE PILE- NO, Hashi hits a BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up, Kenta BOOTS Hashi! Goto fireman’s carries Kenta but Kenta slips free! Kenta shoves Goto into Hashi, then waistlocks Goto. Goto fights the lift, and then ducks, HIDDEN GAP SUPERKICK for Kenta! The fans fire up as Bishamon regroups.
Hashi drags Chase up, whips him to Goto, but Chase BOOTS Goto! Chase swings on Hashi but Hashi ducks the lariat. Hashi powers Chase to ropes, Goto BLINDSIDE LARIATS, and then Hashi rolls Chase. Goto drags Chase up, Hashi has the legs! Chase BOOTS Hashi away! Chase then slips around to dragon sleeper, to steal G T- NO, Goto drops down to victory roll! Chase stands up, into a SUPERKICK! Goto drags Chase around while Hashi BLASTS Kenta! Dragon sleeper and SHOTO!! Cover, Bishamon wins!!
Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Kenta & Chase earn 0)
Another classic in this storied rivalry, worthy of the titles themselves! Will this first win be the win that leads the Fierce Warrior & Headhunter back to the titles? Can Kenta & Chase borrow a page from Bishamon and #GetBackUp in the next round?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA!
TMDK has a team in each block, doubling their chances of taking this league. But perhaps burying the lead is the fact that THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is joining in the fun! Will The Front Man & The Mullet rock this league right from the start? Or will the Mad Man and the turncoat Cold Skull get this tournament #WarReady?
The teams sort out but Oiwa gets in Gabe’s face. Gabe pushes Oiwa, they start, and they tie up at the bell. The fans rally as Oiwa and Gabe are in a deadlock. They go around at center, then Oiwa digs his heels in to push Gabe back. Gabe turns things around to put Oiwa on ropes, but Red Shoes calls the break. Gable lets off, to then CHOP! Gabe scoops and SLAMS Oiwa, then he goes for legs. Oiwa UPKICKS Gabe, then stands up to scoop and SLAM Gabe! Gabe UPKICKS back, both men get up and go face to face. Then they go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as Oiwa gets the edge, but Gabe CHOPS!
Gabe headlocks. Oiwa powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Gabe eggs OIwa on and he runs to RAM Gabe! They both run now, and they RAM shoulders again, and again, and again! Gabe CHOPS then runs, but Oiwa CLOBBERS Gabe! The fans fire up while Gabe bails out. Oiwa eggs Gabe on and Gabe snarls. Gabe shakes the railing in frustration, then he paces around the outside. Gabe cools off, slides in, but then tags Sanada. Sanada steps in slowly, so Oiwa tags in ZSJ. The two rivals circle and the afns rally behind “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” ZSJ and Sanada feel things out, knuclke lock, and ZSJ rolls to wrench.
Sanada is already frustrated so he kicks ZSJ low! Sanada TOSSES ZSJ out and then Gabe goes after Oiwa! Gabe CHOPS away on Oiwa while Sanada sends ZSJ into railing! And then more railing! Gabe does the same to Oiwa, and Sanada storms up on ZSJ. Sanada CLAWS ZSJ’s back, a definite attitude change showing. Gabe Too Sweets with Taiji Ishimori on commentary while Sanada pushes ZSJ into the ring. Sanada whips ZSJ to a corner, but ZSJ goes up, under, around, and RAMS into Sanada! ZSJ snapmares, Sanada handsprings through, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS him down! Tag to Oiwa and he BLASTS Gabe!
Oiwa goes back to Sanada and stands him up. Oiwa wrenches an arm, YANKS it, then wrenches to YANK it again. Oiwa tags ZSJ and ZSJ brings Sanada around to wrench, step over, and wrangle into a mounted armbar! Sanada endures as ZSJ bends the fingers and isolates the arm, to STOMP it! The fans cheer, ZSJ tags Oiwa, and Oiwa CLUBS Sanada’s arm. Oiwa headlocks for a takeover, then isolates the arm in an short arm scissor! The fans rally while Sanada endures and kicks around. Sanada reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes calls it, Oiwa lets Sanada go, but then Oiwa brings Sanada up.
Oiwa whips, Sanada reverses, and Gabe trips Oiwa up! Sanda BLASTS ZSJ while Oiwa drags Oiwa out of the ring! Now things spill out into the crowd! Gabe CHOPS Oiwa, then SMACKS him off empty chairs! Sanada BOWLS ZSJ into chairs! Not quite a strike, so Sanada JAMS ZSJ up with a chair! That picks up the spare, and we can hear Gabe’s CHOPS on Oiwa echo out. Gabe stomps Oiwa while Sanada CHOKES ZSJ with a chair! Red Shoes reprimands the War Dogs, but Gabe POSTS Oiwa! Gabe says War Dogs run this, but Red Shoes starts a ring count. Gabe flexes on Oiwa, then drags him up at 7 of 20.
Gabe puts Oiwa in at 10 and Sanada covers, TWO! Oiwa stays in this and the fans rally behind him. Sanada is annoyed but he brings Oiwa up. Sanada CLUBS Oiwa, then bumps him off Gabe’s boot. Oiwa sputters while Sanada tags Gabe in. Gabe drags Oiwa up, mockingly asks where Zack-senpai went, then he UPPERCUTS Oiwa down. Gabe TOSSES Oiwa out, and he BLASTS ZSJ off the apron! Sanada whips Oiwa into railing! Gabe lifts ZSJ bu tZSJ wrenches free to KIMURA! Gabe powers through, to BITE ZSJ on the forehead! Sanada sends Oiwa into more railing, Gabe sends ZSJ through railing and into chairs!
Sanada BOWLS Oiwa into chairs now, there is the strike! Sanada continues to show his new edge as he JAMS Oiwa up with a chair. Red Shoes reprimands so Sanada brings Oiwa back to ringside. Sanada puts Oiwa in for Gabe and Gabe pushes Oiwa to a cover. Red Shoes says no, all the shenanigans were not right. Gabe gets in Red Shoes’ face about that, but Red Shoes stands his ground. Gabe storms around while the fans rally behind Oiwa. Gabe drags Oiwa up, to CHOP! Oiwa wobbles but he rises up. Oiwa CHOPS, and CHOPS, and fires forearms! Gabe DECKS Oiwa with just one! The fans still rally for Oiwa but Gabe stands on Oiwa’s face!
Gabe soaks up the heat, scuffs Oiwa and stomps him around. Oiwa sits up, Gabe runs, but Oiwa reels him in! Gabe fights the waistlock, runs, but into a SNAP GERMAN! The fans fire up while both men are down! Oiwa and Gabe crawl, hot tags to ZSJ and Sanada! The fans fire up as ZSJ dodges Sanada, full nelsons, then spins him to a headlock. Sanada powers out but ZSJ catches him to a COBRA TWIST! Sanada powers out to HIP TOSS, but ZJS UP KICKS! Sanada avoids the Penalty Kick, blocks the boot, but ZSJ steps through the dragon screw to NECK TWIST! And basment DROPKICK! The fans fire up and we’ve only hit 10 minutes!
ZSJ drags Sanada up, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Sanada blocks the next to spin and suplex, but ZSJ says no to the Magic Screw! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Sanada escapes but ZSJ stays focused. ZSJ stands Sanada up to scoop, but Sanada slips free. ZSJ fights the waistlock, runs, but into a dropkick to the legs! Sanada then DROPKICKS ZSJ down! Sanada fireman’s carries but ZSJ slips free, to have the IRON OCTOPUS! The fans rally while Sanada endures, and Sanada powers out to have a leg! DROPPING DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ clutches the leg and Sanada takes aim! SHINING-
NO, ZSJ ducks, but Sanada catches him to a backslide! ZSJ rolls through to NECK TWIST! Tag to Oiwa and Oiwa BLASTS Gabe off the apron! Oiwa goes back to Sanada and brings him up. Oiwa whips Sanada to ropes, ELBOWS Him down, then ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Sanada! Oiwa deadlift GUT RWENCH PLEXES! Cover, Gabe breaks it! Gabe CHOPS away on ZSJ and Oiwa, but ZSJ blocks! Oiwa DOUBLE CHOPS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ & Oiwa DOUBLE DROPKICK Gabe down! The fans fire up with Oiwa and he clamps onto Sanada with a SLEEPER! Sanada endures and fights up, but Oiwa thrashes him around!
Sanada still fights to his feet, slips around the back, and shoves Oiwa to ropes. Gabe trips Oiwa up! Oiwa kicks at Gabe but Sanada kicks ropes to jam Oiwa up! Sanada suplexes Oiwa into the MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down but the fans rally up again. Sanada crawls over, tag to Gabe, and Gabe storms right up on Oiwa. Gabe UPPERCUTS Oiwa right down! Gabe then puts Oiwa in a corner to fire off forearm after forearm! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, but Gabe digs his boots in while talking trash. Gabe shoves Red Shoes aside so he can keep stomping away on Oiwa! The fans rally and Red Shoes backs Gabe off.
Gabe seethes but the fans continue to rally for Oiwa. Oiwa grits his teeth as he sits up, but Gabe ROCKS him with another shot! Oiwa still looks up defiantly at Gabe, so Gabe fires shots! Gabe says Oiwa’s not worthy of being his NJPW Strong Openweight Challenger. Gabe says Oiwa’s just some “weak ass kohai!” Gabe SPITS on Oiwa, but Oiwa gets in Gabe’s face! Gabe fires slapping strikes, blocks a shot, then SLAPS Oiwa again! Oiwa spins to DOUBLE CHOP Gsbe down! Sanada runs up and kicks low! Sanada whips, Oiwa reverses, but Sanada reverses back, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Sanada!
Gabe runs up, ZSJ BOOTS him first! Gabe runs back in, slips out of the scoop, and he scoops ZSJ for EMERALD FLOWSON!! But Oiwa spins Gabe! Gabe avoids The Grip, runs, but into a LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa is frustrated but the fans rally behind him. Oiwa hauls Gabe up, ANACONDA PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives again but Oiwa roars! Oiwa drags Gabe up, reels him in, but Gabe fights the gut wrench! Gabe CLUBS Oiwa on the back, then he gut wrenches! Oiwa fights back, wrenches out, and he blocks a lariat to spin. Gabe HAYMAKERS, and SAIDOS!! Gabe crawls his way to the cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as Oiwa survives! Gabe snarls and he drags Oiwa up. Gabe says this is the end. But Oiwa fights the suplex! Oiwa suplexes, but Gabe fights it! Oiwa still tries, but Gabe slips out to waistlock. Sanada DROPKCIKS Oiwa, Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe & Sanada work together to DOUBLE SUPLEX! Gabe suplexes again, BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, ZSJ BREAKS IT! Sanada TOSSES ZSJ out and tells Gabe to finish this! ZSJ RAMS Sanada, they brawl outside, and Gabe slashes his throat. Gabe drags Oiwa up, reels him in, but Oia slips through the gut wrench to backslide! TWO, and Gabe UPPERCUTS!
Gabe runs, but ZSJ is back! He BOOTS Gabe but Gabe SLAPS ZSJ! ZSJ KICKS the haymaker away to then ROUNDHOUSE Gabe! Sanada’s in to dragon sleeper! ZSJ arm-drags free, but Sanada comes back to SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then drags ZSJ up, but ZSJ scoops first! ZACK DRIVER!! ZSJ and Sanada flop out of the ring, leaving Oiwa and Gabe to rise up. They run at each other, to DOUBLE LARIAT! neither man falls, they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Gabe UPPERCUTS! Oiwa PALM STRIKES! Gabe PALM STRIKES, CHOPS, JABS, rebounds, into a roll-up! Hig stack, TMDK WINS!!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall
Gabe is in shock! He gets right in Red Shoes’ face but Red Shoes says it was a fair count! Gabe then goes after Oiwa to CLOBBER him! The fans boo and Young Lions rush in, but Gabe eggs Oiwa on! So Oiwa obliges and they brawl among the fans! The Young Lions rush in to separate the two, but Gabe gets loose to CLOBBER Oiwa! They scrap, ZSJ joins in, and he pulls the two apart. Gabe kicks a chair in frustration, then goes into retreat. Wait, Oiwa chases Gabe to the ramp and beats him down! Young Lions again scramble in to stop this, but it just heads to the back! Sanada shrugs it off, will the #ColdWarDogs just have to try harder in the next round?
As for the winners, well, they’re no longer ringside so there won’t be any in-ring closing words. Backstage interviews begin, Gabe promises Oiwa will be put in the ground! Will the Mad Man show The Mullet what it takes to be NJPW Strong? As for ZSJ, he gathers himself, and tells NJPW Media that he doesn’t know where The Mullet went. Actually, no, he has an idea: The Mullet must be smashing the s*it outta Gabe. “Roy The Mullet” is the next NJPW Strong Openweight Champion! Oiwa will hit Gabe so hard, his legs will turn into trombones! As for ZSJ, there is something rare happening in this year’s WTL, isn’t it?
Yes, it’s that the IWGP World EFFIN’ Heavyweight Champion is involved, as this should be! The first time the world champion’s been in this tournament in roughly a decade! ZSJ said he was gonna be a different kind of world champion for NJPW, and that he promises to take NJPW back to the top! Now obviously, a conflict of interests, as this tournament is Shane Haste’s & Mikey Nicholls’ to win, but ZSJ won’t give the boys an easy ride. ZSJ is dreaming~ of an all TMDK World Tag League finals! Then who knows, maybe Zack & Roy get the job done.
But ZSJ knows the Tokyo Dome is coming soon. And Shota Umino wants to be ZSJ’s challenger. ZSJ says he will be keeping his eyes wide open for Shota. ZSJ says he’ll have a DOUBLE main event in the Tokyo Dome, it’s in the bag. What about you, Shota? The Front Man heads out, having put the pressure on his challenger, but will all of NJPW soon belong to TMDK?
Here are the A Block standings!
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa: 1-0, 2 points
Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman: 1-0, 2 points
Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji: 1-0, 2 points
Bishamon: 1-0, 2 points
Gabe Kidd & Sanada: 0-1, 0 points
Kenta & Chase Owens: 0-1, 0 points
Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi: 0-1, 0 points
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great start to World Tag League 2024, with just A Block opening things tonight. I will say those tune-up matches were interesting. Even though David Finlay is the Global Champion, it’s Taiji Ishimori that has apparently become Bullet Club’s international ambassador. Taiji brought Robbie X into the group, now he teamed with The Filip Brothers, Tome & Stevie, who knows who else Bone Soldier will recruit. Taiji’s team beating Tanahashi’s team, House of Torture cheating and beating Tanahashi’s friends, this is all putting the pressure on The Ace, meaning The Ace will win out at WrestleKingdom 19.
Shota Umino teaming with Tomoaki Honma, I wonder if this is to hold Shota back somehow. He is apparently still heading for WrestleKingdom and a world title match with ZSJ, so it’s not like Shota needs to win WTL, but I guess NJPW just wants Shota to give the fans a good time alongside a fan favorite like Honma. Also, Callum & Cobb have a fun new shirt for their team-up. I figured Zayne would need to improvise now that #MonsterSauce is no longer happening, and Taguchi was a great surprise choice. But #FunkySauce making its debut against a team as strong as Takagi & Tsuji was a shame because of course LIJ was winning that. Maybe Zayne & Taguchi can pull off a spoiler victory later on, but I don’t see Funky Sauce going that strong.
Bishamon VS Kenta & Chase really was an awesome match, and it is so surprising how Chase has grown in just the past couple years. Great win for Goto & Hashi, though, as they’re clearly the solid utility choices in the tag division. And what an awesome main event, with Sanada bringing out the most Heel stuff he’s done perhaps ever. A bit jarring really, but that’s just kinda old fashioned Heel turns for ya. Great win for TMDK, though, and definitely an unorthodox way of closing by having Oiwa and Gabe brawl all over ringside and into the back.
While ZSJ says it is big for the world champ to be in this tournament, which I do agree with on some level, it also makes some of the A Block action seem secondary. Gabe and Oiwa having their grudge was kinda the main motivator behind this match, and then it’ll be similar when Shota & Honma VS ZSJ & Oiwa happens. There is the added drama of, “What if someone pins ZSJ? Will they get a world title match before WK19?” Maybe Shota solidifies his WK title match by being the one that pins ZSJ in their match, but it all just feels like more flash than substance. No one else is going to pin ZSJ, Oiwa probably takes whatever losses their team will take, so A Block’s story suffers for it.
My Score: 8.9/10
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