Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Results & Report! (11/7/18)

Published

6 years ago

November 7, 2018

The Cruiserweight Division is in the UK! And the champion, Buddy Murphy, issued a challenge to the UK Division’s Mark Andrews! Will he regret being so bold?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Lucha House Party VS TJP & Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis; Lucha House Party wins.
Lio Rush VS Josh Morrell; Rush wins.
Buddy Murphy VS Mark Andrews; Murphy wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Drake Maverick sets the scene for tonight’s episode.

Firstly, he congratulates The Heart of 205 Live, Mustafa Ali, for earning a Cruiserweight Championship match over The Premier Athlete, Tony Nese. And that championship match against Buddy Murphy will take place at Survivor Series!

As for tonight’s action, the Lucha House Party want retribution against both TJP and Mike Kanellis. TJP has been showing nothing but disrespect to the lucha trio, and Mike Kanellis hasn’t been far behind. These two team together for the first time ever, but will they get away with another win, and some masks?

Then in a crossover main event, NXT UK’s Mark Andrews will have a match with the champion himself, Buddy Murphy!

Lucha House Party VS TJP & Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis!

Lince Dorado and Kalisto step up for their trio in seeking retribution for the disrespect the “Cruiser-Great” has shown them. The FilAm Flash ran to the only man, and woman, on 205 Live he felt would help him, and they accepted his premise for an alliance. Will this team of convenience work well together? Or will the Golden Lynx and Lucha Dragon take the win and the masks back?

The bell rings and TJP starts with Kalisto. They go around and tie up. Kalisto gets TJP into a corner, and backs off cleanly. TJP goes after the mask! Kalisto kicks him away then whips but TJP reverses. TJP drops down, but Kalisto hops on and says “giddy-up!” TJP stands up with a look of anger and humiliation, but Kalisto has a smile and a dance. They go again, Kalisto slides under and rolls back to wheelbarrow arm-drag TJP down. The “Lucha! Lucha!” chants start, and Kalisto dropkicks TJP down. Tag to Lince, and the luchadores work together for the elevated Kalisto splash, and Lince planking splash! TJP scrambles to Mike for both a tag, and maybe some reassuring hugs. Mike runs in, but both luchadores are ready with double uppercuts! Then double clotheslines send Mike out!

Mike scrambles over to TJP now, but both luchadores build speed! But just for a double fake out! Kalisto and Lince handspring for double flexing! Maria is furious for her husband, but fans love the LHP. Mike hurries back in and kicks Lince low. He uppercuts Lince to a corner, then stomps a mudhole into him. Mike dedicates this to Maria, but Lince throws haymakers! Lince whips corner to corner but Mike reverses. Lince goes up and over, then handsprings and slides under, to then tilt-o-whirl headscissor and dropkick! He arm-drags Mike into an armlock! The matracas make noise but Maria is furious. Mike gets up and powers Lince back. He breaks at the rope but TJP gets in a cheap shot! TJP tags in and throws hands on Lince. He slingshot sentons on Lince then covers, TWO! TJP drags Lince up to trip him up, and tag to Mike.

TJP flings Lince forward, then Mike drops an elbow. Mike goes after the mask, then stomps away on Lince. He drags Lince into a corner and takes time to soak up the heat. Mike whips Lince and hits a corner clothesline. He blows a kiss to fans before whipping Lince corner to corner again. Mike hits another corner clothesline, then runs for a boot! Cover, TWO! Maria is furious again but Mike tags in TJP. TJP stomps Lince around then snapmares him into a chinlock. The matracas start up again and it annoys Maria. Fans rally up with the noise, though, and Lince gets up. Lince fights back but is put in a corner. TJP runs in but misses! TJP tumbles down so Mike goes after Lince. Mike misses and Lince hits a triangle dropkick! Lince is alone in the ring and heads for the LHP corner.

TJP intercepts Lince’s leap! Lince pushes him away, hot tag to Kalisto! Springboard crossbody for TJP, forearm for Mike, springboard corkscrew for TJP! Kailsto handsprings to dodge, then gives kick after kick! Kalisto whips but TJP reverses. TJP runs in but Kalisto dodges. Mike tags in as Kalisto rolls up TJP for the school boy kick! Kalisto fires up, but Mike trips him up and yanks him out. Mike throws Kalisto into the barriers with a Russian leg sweep! He puts Kalisto back in and covers, TWO! Mike knees Kalisto down as Maria coaches him on. Mike puts on a rear bearhug and Kalisto endures. Fans rally up, and Kalisto gets to his feet. Mike clubs him down, then back suplexes. Kalisto fights back, wheelbarrow to DDT! Both men are down, and the matracas start again. Hot tags to TJP and Lince!

Lince climbs up and hits a crossbody! He rallies with kicks, then CHOPS TJP off his feet! Lince handsprings to capoeria kick. Mike runs in but for a flapjack! Lince gets Mike out, then dodges TJP in the corner. SUPERKICK drops TJP, springboard moonsault to another! But Lince isn’t done there, he goes up high for a BIG moonsault! Cover but Mike breaks it in time! Maria is relieved, and now Mike and TJP double whip. Lince handsprings to double Golden Rewinds! The fans chant “Lucha! Lucha!” as the LHP go up on opposite corners, for the DOUBLE ASAI! They hit both TJP and Mike down and get TJP in the ring.

Lince runs in corner to corner for the bronco buster! Lince wants the inverted DDT but TJP drops down for a kneebar! Mike keeps Kalisto down as TJP grapevines. Kalisto gets free and breaks the hold in time! Kalisto then dumps Mike out, dodges TJP to DIVE on Mike! Lince springboard sunsets TJP, TWO and TJP gets the mask! TJP has unmasked Lince again! Well, actually, Lince had a spare! Huricanrana to pin! Lucha House Party wins!

Winners: Lucha House Party, Lince Dorado pinning

TJP got outsmarted, and the LHP get even! Maria keeps Mike and TJP calm, saying she’s got this. They’ve still got the other masks, but where and when will they be back for more?

Cedric Alexander trains in the WWE Performance Center.

Steve Corino puts the former Cruiserweight Champion through his drills, then has Alexander look through the footage. But then, in walks the Man of the Hour, Lio Rush. Lio laughs at what he sees, but what does he want? To see if the rumors were true, and they are. Alexander lost his confidence, so now he’s back in school training with rookies! Alexander says that if Lio ever stopped caring about carrying Lashley’s bags, and actually did some training, maybe Lio would be champion. Lio knows what Alexander wants. Alexander wants to be champion again, but that’s not happening here. He needs a marquee match with the 23 year old piece of gold. Oh that’s what Alexander needs?

Lio says Alexander should think it over, but if he wants to find Lio later, he’s not a hard man to find. That is, if Alexander gets out of class on time. Lio laughs his way back out, but the match has been made for next week! Will the Age of Alexander rebuild itself on top of the Man of the Hour’s reputation?

Lio Rush VS Josh Morrell!

Speaking of the Man of the Hour, he’s still in Manchester because he #CametoCollect his own paycheck for Cruiserweight action. Lio is still undefeated in 1v1 action, but he seems to be taking everything to easy. Will he be caught off guard by Manchester’s own? Or will he still be at the top of his game without even trying?

The bell rings and Lio doesn’t see what’s so great about his opponent. However, Morrell dares Lio to “cross the line”. Lio takes Morrell up on the challenge, and they tie up. Lio gets a wristlock, but Morrell rolls, cartwheels, handsprings and throws Lio! That definitely surprises Lio. Things speed up, and Morrell somehow keeps pace. Lio stops on a dime but Morrell catches Lio’s kick. Morrell keeps out of reach, flips Lio back, and enziguris Lio to a corner! Morrell whips Lio but Lio reverses. Lio runs but into a boot! Morrell hops up but Lio enziguris Morrell out of the ring! Lio fetches Morrell and throws him into the barrier!

Lio has a temper and he uses it on Morrell by stomping in a mudhole! The ref backs Lio off, but Lio leaps in for a cannonball! Lio drags Morrell up, whips him around to reel him into a drop toehold, and Morrell hits buckles face first! The ref checks on Morrell, but he’s somehow okay. Morrell flounders around, fans call Lio names but Lio ignores them. He climbs up top, and hits his Final Hour frog splash! Cover, Lio wins!

Winner: Lio Rush, by pinfall

The win streak continues, but Lio had to put in some work. He takes up the mic to dedicate his victory to a man that truly inspires him. That man is Cedric Alexander. Ever since Alexander lost the Cruiserweight Champinoship, he’s been in a slump. So what Alexander did was go back to the WWE PC, to his roots. To be honest, Lio isn’t mad. Lio actually respects that. Because Lio knows “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Alexander’s working hard, that much is true.

But Lio reminds everyone that there is absolutely no one, and that means NO ONE, that works harder than Lio Rush! If Alexander thinks he’s getting back up on his high horse at the expense of the 23 year old piece of gold, he’s sadly mistaken. Lio promises that the #AgeOfAlexander meets its Final Hour. “Tick tock, Cedric, tick tock.” Will Alexander’s time be up? Or are the days of Lio’s undefeated streak numbered?

205 Live takes at the UK Cruiserweight crossover star, Mark Andrews.

The High-Fiving, Stage-Diving rockstar wrestles not only to put the UK on the map, but also Wales on the map. Andrews vows to make Wales proud in both NXT UK and the Cruiserweight Division, but will he face a mountain too big to climb in the Aussie Juggernaut?

Mustafa Ali speaks.

The Beacon of Light knows that at first “they called me a ‘maybe’. Today, they call me the Heart of 205 Live.” At Wrestlemania, he was so close to being called champion. That slipped through his fingers, but he’s scratched and clawed his way back to this chance. He and Buddy Murphy have gone back and forth all year, but this time, nothing will slip past Ali. No one will see Ali as a “maybe”, because this time they will call him champion. Survivor Series may pit Raw against SmackDown, but who will come out atop 205 Live?

Buddy Murphy VS Mark Andrews!

The champion wanted something big for his first match since winning the title at Super Show-Down, and issued a challenge to the best Cruiserweights in NXT UK. The Juggernaut says he looks forward to another go with the Heart of 205 Live, and the High-Fiver Stage-Diver is a great tune-up for Murphy. Murphy claims that in the real world, the bad guy always wins, and he’s the biggest and baddest around! Will Andrews learn before Ali that there really is no stopping the unstoppable?

The bell rings and Manchester is behind #Mandrews more than Murphy. The two circle and Murphy corners Andrews. Andrews can’t get away, so he grapples with Murphy. Murphy brings Andrews down with strength, but Andrews gets up. Andrews rolls and hooks Murphy’s leg. Murphy throws Andrews off and has him back down. Andrews handsprings up and goes for the legs again, but Murphy brings him down again. Fans rally and Andrews gets up again. Andrews spins around and gets a wristlock. He still tries to bring Murphy down but Murphy breaks free to snapmare. Andrews lands on his feet and grins at Murphy. Murphy sweeps the legs and covers, ONE.

Andrews wants a sweep but his arms aren’t strong enough, so he uses his legs! Andrews moonsaults but lands on his feet when Murphy moves. Fans applaud this close match-up, and even Murphy smirks. Murphy then tosses Andrews to a corner! Andrews gets out and chops, but Murphy isn’t bothered. Andrews tries to arm-drag but Murphy blocks. Murphy whips and then bounces Andrews off his shoulder! Andrews is shocked as he rolls out of the ring. Murphy goes out to chase Andrews, they end up back in the ring and Andrews goes for a headscissors. Murphy blocks, but Andrews sunset flips, TWO! Andrews was close to getting one over on the champ. Andrews slides under to then enziguri Murphy! Murphy bails out, but Andrews builds speed, to FLY! For headscissors! Fans fire up as Murphy hits the floor.

Andrews brings Murphy up and into the ring. Andrews hurries up top, but Murphy gets up. Murphy jumps under Andrews, then catches his tilt-o-whirl for a long dart into buckles! Andrews checks his teeth while Murphy catches his breath. Murphy stalks Andrews back into the corner, then throws him across the ring! Murphy brings Andrews up and shoves him to ropes, for a forearm to the back on the rebound! Fans still rally for Andrews as Murphy stalks him. Andrews hits back but Murphy rocks him with a right. Murphy throws Andrews across the ring again, then looms over him. He drags Andrews up for elbows to the head, then covers. TWO, but Murphy wraps on an armlock. Murphy grinds his forearm into Andrews’ face, but fans rally up.

Andrews endures as Murphy drives elbows into the neck and chest! Cover, TWO, so it’s back to the armlock. Andrews continues to endure, and works his way out of the hold. He stands up and gives Murphy a jawbreaker! Andrews is free, but Murphy pops him right up onto his shoulders! Andrews uses that for a Reveres-Rana! Murphy tumbles out of the ring while Andrews rests in the ring. Fans fire up as Andrews builds speed. Andrews DIVES! Murphy is blasted over the announce desk! Andrews grits his teeth and gets up to leap over the desk! He throws hands on Murphy, then chases him to ringside. Murphy throws Andrews in, but Andrews gets him back with a basement dropkick! Andrews fetches Murphy, and rocks him with a right.

They go around the corner, and Andrews uses the steel steps to launch for a cannonball senton! Fans fire up as Andrews gets Murphy up and into the ring. Andrews hurries up and springboards, but into a pumphandle! Murphy lifts but Andrews wheelbarrows to victory roll and double stomps! Then standing corkscrew moonsault! Cover, TWO!! Murphy survives to Andrews’ surprise. Andrews walks over but Murphy puts him on the apron. Andrews kicks back then slingshots for a sunset flip! Cover, TWO! Murphy stirs while Andrews catches his breath. Andrews throws forearms, but Murphy fires his strike fest! Murphy’s knee misses but he boots Andrews to a corner.

Andrews enziguris, then hops up! Murphy tucks him in, but misses his superkick! Andrews mule kicks Murphy, then quebrada to tornado, but Murphy blocks the DDT! Suplex, Andrews tries a huricanrana, but Murphy blocks that into a sit-out powerbomb! Cover, TWO!? Andrews survives and now Murphy is surprised, but fans are loving this! Both men are down but Murphy sits up first. Murphy toys with Andrews but Manchester rallies up. Murphy suplexes but gets Stun-Dog Millionaire! Andrews hurries to the top rope, Shooting Star gets knees! Murphy hits a knee trigger! Then pumphandle, Murphy’s Law! Cover, Murphy wins!

Winner: Buddy Murphy, by pinfall

The champion rolls on towards Survivor Series and his familiar foe in Mustafa Ali! What will it take to stop the Unstoppable?

My Thoughts:

A pretty solid episode of 205 Live here. TJP and the Kanellises work together well despite losing, but I was glad to see they did a “mask under a mask” spot like that. Their feud hopefully ends with the Lucha House Party actually getting those stolen masks back, since the Heels still hold one of each. It was a clever choice for Lio to have a tougher time with his jobber opponent tonight, to make a point of the very quote he used. Alexander VS Lio next week should be an amazing match, and I can’t be sure which way it should go. Chances are, Lio will win to keep his undefeated streak going while perpetuating Alexander’s crisis of confidence story. It’d be too soon after Maverick told Alexander last week that he only gets his title rematch when he’s ready, for Alexander to suddenly win such an important match.

Just as I was wondering, we learn that the Cruiserweight Championship will be defended at Survivor Series so that there’s a chance something changes the status quo that Sunday. Murphy VS Andrews was a great match tonight, and another sign that there could be crossovers between divisions. If Lucha House Party can be on Raw for their tag team division and NXT/NXT UK stars can be on 205 Live for Cruiserweight action, maybe one day we can actually get a story where someone is a champion on multiple WWE programs.

My Score: 8.4/10

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Up Next

Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (11/7/18)

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Mitchell’s WWE NXT UK Results & Report! (11/7/18)

Coverage

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

The Raw Before Christmas!

Published

23 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

Steven Mitchell

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

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky; wins and advances to the next round.
Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy; wins.
The Miz VS Dexter Lumis; wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

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

Coverage

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

Empire VS Emperor!

Published

20 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Steven Mitchell

The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

After the Triple Threat Tag…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sumo Rules!

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

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

Khan: 0; Taichi: 1

Special Guest Referee!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Khan: 1; Taichi: 1

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

Last Man Standing!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts:

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

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

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