Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Results & Report! (12/31/18)
The last Raw of 2018 promises to end with a bang as The Show-Off and Scottish Terminator fight inside a Steel Cage! Who escapes into the New Year a winner?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Steel Cage Match: Dolph Ziggler VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
- Fresh Start Battle Royal: Apollo Crews wins and earns a WWE Intercontinental Championship match against Dean Ambrose.
- Six Woman Tag: Ember Moon, Sasha Banks & Bayley VS The Riott Squad; Moon, Banks & Bayley win.
- Seth Rollins VS Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush; Lashley wins, by disqualification.
- 3 on 2 Handicap: Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers VS Heath Slater & Rhyno; Mahal & The Singh Brothers win.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose VS Apollo Crews; Ambrose wins and retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
- Natalya & Ronda Rousey VS Nia Jax & Tamina; Rousey & Natty win.
PLAY BY PLAY
The cage descends!
Raw begins its 2018 finale with steel and pain!
Steel Cage Match: Dolph Ziggler VS Drew McIntyre!
Once a dynamic and dominant duo, The Show-Off and Scottish Terminator have had a roller coaster 2018. Things would then fall apart as McIntyre would turn on Ziggler for being the dead weight dragging him down. Who closes out the year proving to the other who was really the weak link in the team?
The bell rings and the two men stare down. Then they rush each other! ZIggler hits McIntyre, then climbs over him to head for the top. McIntyre pulls Ziggler down but Ziggler fights him off. Ziggler climbs another wall but McIntyre yanks him right off. McIntyre CHOPS Ziggler off his feet! McIntyre drags Ziggler up for a deadlift suplex! But McIntyre doesn’t cover nor climb, he grins and CHOPS Ziggler again. McIntyre taunts Ziggler that he wanted this match. Ziggler fires haymakers but McIntyre puts him in a corner for more chops. McIntyre puts Ziggler on the top rope then chops him again! McIntyre continues to egg Ziggler on, but ZIggler slaps him away! Ziggler boots then leaps, for the satellite DDT!
Both men are down, but Ziggler slowly sits up. McIntyre follows but Ziggler is on him with chops of his own. McIntyre throws haymakers but Ziggler throws body shots. Ziggler throws more hands, then kicks, but runs into the Glasgow Kiss! Both men are down again but McIntyre drags himself up. McIntyre starts to climb, but Ziggler hurries up after! Ziggler anchors a foot, and he drags McIntyre back in. The two brawl on the top rope with chops and haymakers. Ziggler bounces McIntyre’s face off the steel again and again and again! McIntyre kicks a leg out and Ziggler crotches on the rope. But then Ziggler shakes the ropes and McIntyre crotches, too! Both men fall down and we go to break.
Raw returns and McIntyre is again egging Ziggler on. McIntyre SLAPS Ziggler back down, then taunts him with the ropes. Finn Balor watches backstage as Ziggler slaps back! Ziggler fires off hands, but runs into a tilt-o-whirl. Ziggler lands on his feet and rebounds from ropes to hit a Famouser! Cover, TWO! McIntyre survives but both men are down again. Ziggler checks his jaw and ears while McIntyre clutches his head. Both men slowly stand as fans build to a rally. Ziggler goes to kick but is blocked into the inverted Alabama Slam, but he turns it into a victory roll! TWO, and McIntyre runs in. Ziggler sends him into steel! Ziggler throws McIntyre into more steel and McIntyre falls. He drags McIntyre up again for another throw into steel, and then a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!
Both men are down but roll to opposite ends of the cage. Fans build to another rally, and Ziggler wants the door! He drags himself to the doorway but McIntyre drags him back in! McIntyre gives another Glasgow Kiss but both men go down from the impact. Ziggler crawls again and wants the door to open. The referee obliges and Ziggler hurries, but McIntyre gets him again! McIntyre clubs away, but Ziggler slams the door on McIntyre’s head! Both men are down again, but McIntyre is in Ziggler’s way this time. Ziggler rolls away while McIntyre crawls. They both stand, and Ziggler hits another Famouser! Cover, TWO! McIntyre still lives and we go to another break.
Raw returns and Ziggler has made it to the top of the cage! But McIntyre leaps up to stop him! McIntyre climbs and clubs, then drags Ziggler back in with a SUPERPLEX!! Both men are down from the insane impact and fans declare “This is Awesome!” McIntyre drags himself to ropes and actually laughs. He’s amused by how far Ziggler has pushed him in this match. McIntyre looms over Ziggler as he dares him to “Rise! Show me what you’ve got!” Ziggler drags himself up, and McIntyre scoops him to long dart him at the steel cage! McIntyre won’t end it here, “I told you there wasn’t enough room here for both of us.” He suplexes Ziggler into the steel! McIntyre says Ziggler begged for this, so this is what he gets. “I refuse to let it be over.”
Ziggler gets up as McIntyre eggs him on, and Ziggler gets the ZIGZAG! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre survives but Ziggler is ready for more. Ziggler eggs McIntyre now, but gets a CLAYMORE outta nowhere! McIntyre grins, but then goes back to coldly staring down at Ziggler. McIntyre slithers to a corner as he applauds Ziggler. Fans rally up as McIntyre prepares another shot. Ziggler stirs, CLAYMORE!! Cover, McIntyre wins!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
The Scottish Terminator finally ends the match, and now he moves past Ziggler into 2019. With McIntyre in the Royal Rumble, will anyone else have a chance of earning that Wrestlemania championship match?
But wait, Ziggler shouts “Is that all you’ve got?!” McIntyre won’t let Ziggler get away with such defiance! He grabs a chair and then rains down rights on Ziggler! McIntyre wedges chair to trap Ziggler against the steel, and dropkicks it! Ziggler writhes and rolls from the steel sandwich, but McIntyre grins and laughs. McIntyre “In case you didn’t know already, my name is Drew McIntyre, and I am the king of the Raw jungle.” McIntyre tells Ziggler he could’ve walked away, but Ziggler kept sniffing around for scraps. Ziggler is nothing but dead weight, and does not deserve McIntyre’s leftovers.
But now McIntyre ends that chapter, and he focuses on what really matters. He’ll go from being the king of Raw to the king of WWE, because he vows to win The Royal Rumble and finally fulfill destiny by becoming Universal Champion! Wait, Ziggler stands back up, and eggs McIntyre on again!? So McIntyre goes in for a third Claymore! McIntyre leaves Ziggler for dead, will he do the same to whoever he meets in the Royal Rumble match?
A limousine arrives.
And riding inside, is Shane O’Mac! And Triple H! The brothers-in-law of the Authority walk–and shuffle–into the arena. What will they have to say on the last Raw of 2018?
Superstars share New Year’s Resolutions!
Finn Balor knows that any time his name’s brought up, it’s about being the inaugural Universal Champion. Finn is proud of that accomplishment, but he wants to soon be the new Universal Champion.
Ember Moon says 2019 is the year she proves the nickname #Shenom is more than just a name. She vows to do this by winning the Women’s Royal Rumble match and going on to Wrestlemania!
The Ascension want to bring back Fashion Files 2019! No, no, no! It’s to be the Tag Team Champions. Oh, that’s much better actually.
Lucha House Party will make 2019 their year with even more “Lucha! Lucha!”
Will any of these resolutions come true? Or will they sadly be dropped and forgotten?
Seth Rollins heads to the ring!
The Architect always managed to #BurnItDown in 2018, but he still has lingering issues with the Lunatic Fringe. Detroit is happy to see Rollins, and he’s happy to see them all fired up. But to be honest, Rollins isn’t big on New Year’s Resolutions. Life moves too fast for that, especially in the WWE. Every week and every day is a fresh start. And Rollins isn’t waiting for the ball to drop, he wants to start a party right now! Rollins has a rematch coming for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and he wants it now! Fans want to see that, too, but instead it’s Triple H who come out! The Game goes to the ring and stands face to face with Rollins.
These two have history, but HHH heard what Rollins said. That “fresh start” at life to do anything you want. Nothing is truer than that for WWE. But that means there are no more automatic rematch clauses. So Rollins’ match with Ambrose is not happening. And to be honest, HHH isn’t sure Rollins deserves such a rematch. HHH takes no pleasure in telling Rollins that, because he was always his most vocal supporter. Cut the crap, Hunter! You only believed when Rollins was a puppet. Is that what Rollins thinks? HHH defends that Rollins made him believe in Rollins. When Rollins told everyone he was going to be the face of Raw, HHH was made to believe that. When Rollins said he was going to be The Man, HHH was made to believe that. Rollins took what he wanted and made HHH believe in him,
And for a moment when HHH didn’t believe, that was when Rollins took him to Wrestlemania and in front of the entire world, he kicked HHH’s ass until he believed again! SO where is that Seth Rollins? Because all HHH sees is a “shell” asking for stuff. Rollins isn’t asking! Has HHH not been watching? Rollins has been carrying Raw for the last year! When Lesnar was wherever doing what whatever Lesnar does, Rollins was churning out classics with Balor, Ziggler and even Mojo Rawley. Yet HHH thinks Rollins is asking? Well fine, Rollins is glad there’s no more handouts, because he’s going to earn this shot. Does HHH want to see the “ruthless bastard” again!? “Yes.”
And HHH wants it to start tonight, #BurnItALLDown against Bobby Lashley! Rollins will burn Bobby, and then he’ll burn Ambrose! And anyone else who gets in his way, even Brock Lesnar or the McMahon Family!! Shane McMahon comes out now to defuse the situation between HHH and Rollins. Shane wants HHH to not amp Rollins up to the point of burning this place down. And Shane tells Rollins to get ready for that match with Bobby Lashley. And Dean Ambrose will be facing someone tonight, and it’ll be the winner of the #FreshStart Battle Royal, which starts next! The first one out for that is FINN BALOR! Will Balor Club get its #FreshStart at the end of 2018?
Fresh Start Battle Royal!
The Extraordinary Man is joined by No Way Jose, The Ascension, the Lucha House Party and even Baron Corbin, all with an equal chance of winning a shot at the Lunatic Fringe’s Intercontinental Championship. The Lone Wolf is in the foulest mood of everyone in the ring, but will that help him win his way back to prominence?
The bell rings and everyone brawls! Corbin goes after Finn but Titus O’Neil helps Finn haul Corbin up. The B-Team go after Curt Hawkins, who is still the man with the worst losing streak. The Ascension and the Lucha House Party brawl while Corbin turns things around on Finn. The Ascension go after Corbin and that saves Finn. Jose gives Viktor an airplane spin! Both men end up dizzy, and Apollo Crews lifts Jose! Apollo throws Jose out, and then throws Viktor out, Apollo ELIMINATES them both. The B-Team goes after Apollo but he puts them both on the apron! Apollo boots Konnor away then handsprings over him to dropkick him down! Ambrose watches this backstage as Apollo rallies.
The B-Team go after Finn while Zack Ryder fights off former friend, Mojo Rawley. Finn fights The B-Team off while Lucha House Party pick on Hawkins. Corbin works together with The B-Team to bully Balor while Ryder actually gets Konnor up. Hawkins holds on for dear life while Finn rallies on Corbin and The B-Team. Corbin knees Finn down and grinds his boot in. Ryder headbutts Hawkins and works together with Apollo and Corbin. Titus fights off all three Lucha House Party members, and then throws Kalisto to the apron. Metalik and Lince help Kalisto, and they drag Titus out! Lucha House Party ELIMINATES Titus, and we go to break!
Raw returns and Finn fights off Lucha House Party. Kalisto wheelbarrows but Finn throws him into Lince. Finn turns around into Metalik’s kick, then Metalik climbs up. Metalik walks the rope, but Finn shoves him out, Finn ELIMINATES Metalik! Finn then dumps Kalisto to the apron, and dumps Lince out beside him. Finn goes for their fingers but the luchadores help each other stay up. But Finn boots and ELIMINATES Kalisto, then throws Lince out onto his amigos! Finn ELIMINATES Lucha House Party all by himself! But now Baron Corbin goes after him again! The two brawl, while Ryder works on the B-Team. Corbin clotheslines Finn over and over, but then Finn sends him into the post!
The B-Team brawl with Apollo, and Apollo lifts Bo Dallas. Curt Axel saves BO to throw Apollo tot he apron. But Apollo shovels The B-Team up and out and ELIMINATES them both! Konnor runs at Apollo but Apollo SUPERKICKS and ELIMINATES him! Mojo Rawley runs into a knee, and Apollo throws him out to ELIMINATE Mojo! Apollo has six eliminations all to himself! Curt Hawkins and Ryder get run over, and Apollo lifts Tyler Breeze. Breeze slips out and enziguris, but misses. Apollo lifts and throws Breeze out onto the pile, Apollo ELIMINATES Breeze! That’s seven!
The Final Five are Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, Zack Ryder, Finn Balor and somehow, Curt Hawkins. Corbin grabs Apollo for the choke slam! Finn slingblades Corbin! Finn chops Hawkins and dropkicks Corbin. Hawkins swings but runs into an elbow drop DDT! Ryder runs into a takedown and stomps! But Corbin throws Finn out and ELIMINATES him!! Corbin gets revenge on Finn, but then runs into Ryder’s boots. Ryder hits a missile dropkick! Ryder hits a forearm smash then throws more forearms in the corner. Fans are fired up and “WOO WOO WOO!” Broksi– ELIMINATION! Corbin, Apollo and Hawkins are the Final Three! And Corbin grins at Mr. Losing Streak. Hawkins throws hands and fans fire up! Corbin knees low and throws Hawkins to the apron, but Hawkins holds on!
Hawkins shoulders back in, then drags Corbin over the top rope! Fans fire up for Hawkins, but Corbin drags himself back in. Corbin throws and ELIMINATES Hawkins! But Apollo is right on Corbin! Corbin fights him off and throws Apollo tot he apron. Apollo hits back then climbs up. Apollo leaps in, rolls through, but Corbin grabs him. Corbin lifts but Apollo slips through the choke slam to send Corbin at the corner. Corblin slides out under the bottom rope then back in, but into an enziguri! Another enziguri ELIMINATES Corbin! Apollo Crews wins!!
Winner: Apollo Crews; will face Dean Ambrose for the WWE Intercontinental Championship later tonight
Is this it?! Is this the night the rising star finally reaches a mountain peak?! Apollo Crews will test himself again against the Lunatic Fringe, will his New Year be golden?
In-ring interview with Apollo Crews!
The title match is set, what’s going through his head? This is what Apollo has been wanting for so long. It took 364 days, but the moment is here! And Apollo can’t think of a better way to end 2018 than becoming the new Intercontinental Champion! Will his New Year’s Resolution come true before 2019 even starts?
Backstage interview with Natalya.
The Queen of Harts reviews footage of her match with friend and Raw Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey. Natty got Ronda to get serious and fight her like a real opponent. As such, Ronda got the better of Natty with the armbar. What does Natty plan for 2019? She isn’t sure. 2018 was so powerful, but full of such great things, too. Natty’s match with Ronda really pushed them both and it was just magical. She would love another chance at Wrestlemania, so Natty enters the Women’s Royal Rumble! But then Nia Jax comes over to mock the BFF’s. What if Ronda isn’t champion then? What if something derails her plans? Tamina attacks from the other end! And then they both throw Natty into a trunk!
Security gets Nia and Tamina to stop, and they taunt “Where’s your best friend now, Natty?” Will the Samoan Dynasty regret attacking Ronda’s friend while she’s away? Or are they the obstacle neither Natty nor Ronda can get past on the Road to Wrestlemania?
Baron Corbin is still in the ring.
And he complains that the battle royal wasn’t fair. He is more deserving of a fresh start than anyone else. But that’s the problem. He tried to please the fans as GM and all fans did was boo! Baron had to deal with egos and the pressures from the administration. Corbin deserves an award. But instead, Elias appears and plays Auld Lang Syne for the New Year. “Brothers and sisters, I’ve got one question for everybody here tonight: Who Wants to Walk With Elias?!” Detroit does! And Corbin’s time is up, because the New Year’s Rocking Eve with Elias is now. Elias doesn’t invite losers to his party so Corbin has to go. Fans tell Corbin “You’re a Loser!”
Corbin says the fans are the losers, but Elias goes into detail. When Corbin was GM, it was his plan to never bring Raw to “a depraved and rundown city like Detroit.” But Elias talked with Kid Rock, and they both agree: Corbin running his mouth ain’t no way to bring in the new year. And Detroit is making a comeback! Elias will resurrect Detroit like never before. Because everyone knows WWE really means “Walk With Elias!” Now obviously Elias has a song to sing, so if Corbin isn’t going to leave, just please silence phone, hold applause and most importantly shut your mouth!
Elias begins, “Baron Corbin be forgot, please just go away~! You ruined Raw, now Elias will save Mondays.” He hears Corbin speak and gets in a bad mood. Whoever said Corbin’s entertaining should be sued. Corbin lost his job, such a pity. But Elias doesn’t really care, because we’re in Detroit Rock City! Sing, “Detroit Rock City~!” Corbin gets out of the ring, and we have a brawl! Corbin throws Elias into the barriers, then over into the crowd. Elias gets up and Corbin pursues, only to get kicks. They brawl more, and Corbin throws Elias into the front row! Elias throws a drink back! Elias brings the fight back to Corbin and they brawl right in front of the fans. Corbin gets away, but Elias sees Corbin coming from the timekeeper’s area and clobbers him! Then he uses a spare trunk to squish Corbin against the barriers!
Elias climbs on the trunk to club away on Corbin! Fans are fired up with Elias as he stands above Corbin. Corbin retreats but Elias pursues to throw him back to ringside. Corbin continues his retreat and gets away from Elias. Will this grudge continue into the new year? Who else will #WalkWithElias in 2019?
More superstars share their New Year’s Resolutions!
Drake Maverick vows that The Authors of Pain will make every other tag team on Raw feel the pain, until they again become the Raw Tag Team Champions!
The Riott Squad says they don’t need to change. All they need to do is apply some pressure and break the rest of the Raw Women’s Division.
Zack Ryder wants more matches on TV! And to collect all the new WWE Action Figures.
No Way Jose only worries about 2019 when it’s 2019. For now, enjoy the present with a party~!
Six Woman Tag: Ember Moon, Sasha Banks & Bayley VS The Riott Squad!
The War Goddess and the #LegitHuggable duo won a match against Dana Brooke, Mickie James & Alicia Fox, but Ruby, Sarah & Liv had to ruin the fun. These six will now settle the score before 2018 is done, who gets a leg up towards the promised Women’s Tag Team Championships?
The teams sort out and Bayley starts with Liv Morgan. Bayley hits a Thesz Press at the bell, but Liv gets up. The two brawl and Liv throws Bayley down by her hair. Liv tags in Sarah, and the two mug Bayley. Bayley fights back, tags Sasha and double crossbodies! Sasha comes in to Meteora Sarah! Cover, TWO! Sasha bumps Sarah on buckles and stomps in a mudhole. She grinds a boot into Sarah’s face, then brings her over. Sarah forearms Sasha back, then whips her into a corner. Sarah misses and Sasha bumps her back. Sasha bumps Sarah in her corner, and Bayley tags as Sasha hits swinging knees! Bayley drags Sarah out and drops an elbow! Cover, ONE, but Bayley keeps on Sarah with a facelock.
Bayley tags Ember but Sarah gets away to tag Ruby. Ruby runs into Ember’s roll up, ONE! Ember tries again, ONE! Ruby dodges Ember but Ember lands out of the hip toss to arm-drag Ruby down! Ember dropkicks Ruby then covers, TWO! Ember puts on a headlock, but Ruby powers out. She holds rope and Ruby misses, but Liv tags in. Ember rolls Ruby but Liv boots her down! Cover, ONE! The Squad grows frustrated but they keep on Ember with a mudhole stomp. Liv shrieks when the ref reprimands her, then tags to Sarah. The mudhole stomps continue, tag to Ruby. Tag to Liv and then tag to Sarah, and then tag to Ruby. The entire Squad stomps away on Ember, so Bayley & Sasha drag out Liv and Sarah! The brawl gets chaotic and we go to break!
Raw returns and things speed up between Bayley and Ruby. Bayley ducks, dodges and arm-drags Ruby into an armlock! Ruby fights her way back up and pulls Bayley’s ponytail. She whips but Bayley goes up and over. Bayley goes for a hip toss but Ruby blocks it for her own. Ruby goes after the legs but Bayley shoves her away. Liv tags in but runs into Bayley’s arm-drag! Bayley whips Liv to her corner and tags in Sasha. Sasha tags in Ember, and the BFF’s whip Liv to the corner. Ember hits a back elbow, then rolls Liv, TWO! Ember tags back to Sasha and feeds Liv to a roll up, TWO! Sasha keeps on Liv with a whip tot he corner. Liv elbows Sasha away but her boots are deflected. Sarah distracts the ref so that Ruby can save Liv from the knees!
Liv climbs back up and in to stomp Sasha down! Cover, TWO! The Squad is frustrated but Liv drags Sasha away. Ruby tags in and she double kicks with Liv. Cover, TWO! Sasha goes for her corner but Ruby keeps her back. Ruby puts on a full nelson and thrashes Sasha around, but fans rally up. Sasha feeds off the energy, but Ruby whips her. Sasha gets around for a crucifix takedown, TWO! Ruby elbows Sasha down, covers, TWO! Ruby tags Sarah, and they work together for the human weapon senton! Cover, TWO! Sarah goes to boot but misses, and Sasha gets to a corner. Sasha goes up but Sarah throws her down, to hit a sliding knee! Cover, TWO! Sarah pushes Sasha to her corner, tag to Liv. Sarah feeds Sasha to Liv’s knees, Liv hits a flying bulldog! Cover, TWO! Liv tires again, TWO! Again, TWO!
Liv is furious, but she puts on a chinlock. Fans rally for Sasha, and Sasha fights back. Liv whips Sasha but Sasha counters to a backslide. TWO, but Sasha knees Liv in the face! Both women crawl for their corners as fans rally up. Tag to Sarah and she drags Sasha away. Sasha slips out of the back suplex, but into a pop-up headbutt! Sarah hits Ember for good measure, and taunts Bayley. The ref has to hold Bayley back, which only allows The Squad to hit Sasha with a Double STO! Sarah covers, but Ember narrowly breaks it! Sarah dropkicks Bayley while Ember FLIES onto Ruby and Liv! Sasha rolls Sarah up, TWO! But there’s no one to tag! Sasha tilt-o-whirls and wants a takedown but Sarah pushes out. Bayley tags in, backstabber to Macho Elbow! Cover, Bayley and team wins!
Winner: Bayley, Sasha Banks & Ember Moon, Bayley pinning
The Boss & Hug Connection pull it off with help from the Shenom! Will 2019 mean big things for all three of them?
WWE and Raw take a look back at The Monster Among Men’s 2018.
“Somebody is gonna get these hands!” From manhandling the Big Red Machine to making Kevin Owen’s life a demolition derby, Braun Strowman has done what he wants, when he wants, to who he wants. “Hell, I even played a cello.” However, it wasn’t all fun and destruction for Strowman, as circumstances beyond his control would prevent him from getting the WWE Universal Championship from The Beast, Brock Lesnar. But Strowman has his next shot at the Royal Rumble. Will The Monster conquer the Beast and finally have the gold he wants?
Seth Rollins VS Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush!
The Game dared The Architect to be that “ruthless bastard” he was before, and burn down anyone in his way. Rollins looks to take up that challenge against the Rocky Mountain Machine to close out the year. Will Rollins still #BurnItDown and blaze a path back to the WWE Intercontinental Championship?
Lio Rush says “If there was any man hungrier for a fresh start in 2019, it’s the Almighty Bobby Lashley.” This man was handpicked by HHH. Why? Because Lashley isn’t here to pose, he’s here to fight! “The world must’ve forgotten exactly who Bobby Lashley is. But luckily for you, Seth, you get to find out firsthand.” And after being dominated, Rollins will see Lashley’s favorite pose, as will the entire worthless city of Detroit! Lio tells Lashley to go in there and dominate, and Lashley plans to do just that. Will this fresh start bring this duo of might and mouth bigger and better things?
The bell rings and Rollins goes right at Lashley with a dropkick! Rollins throws hands in the corner, but the ref backs him off. Lashley gets around to waistlock slam Rollins, and he glares down at Rollins. Lashley puts Rollins in a corner for haymakers of his own. The ref warns Lashley but Lashley keeps throwing hands. Lashley runs side to side to ram his shoulder into Rollins. Fans jeer as Lashley throws Rollins around again. Lashley drags Rollins up but Rollins slips out of the suplex. Rollins chops and haymakers, then whips. Lashley reverses but Rollins dodges to Pele! Rollins runs to dropkick Lashley out of the ring! Then Rollins slingshots out to take Lashley down! Lio distracts Rollins on the apron, but Rollins ignores him to springboard, but into a complete shot from Lashley! Cover, TWO!
Lashley drives elbows into Rollins as fans rally up. Lashley clamps on a nerve hold but Rollins fires up. Rollins fights back and jawbreakers free. Rollins runs but Lashley follows to run him over! Lashley drags Rollins up to throw him out. Fans boo and jeer but Lio gets away with a headscissor to throw Rollins into a post! Rollins is in trouble as we go to break.
Raw returns and Lashley grinds Rollins down in a cobra clutch. Fans rally for Rollins while Lio coaches Lashley on. Lashley shifts to yank Rollins’ arm. Lashley flexes while fans boo and jeer. Rollins fights back with chops! He whips Lashley corner to corner but Lashley reverses! Rollins tumbles into the buckles, then back down. Lashley covers, TWO! Lashley drags Rollins up to slap him around. Fans rally for Rollins even as Lashley knocks him back down. Rollins grits his teeth as he pushes himself back up. Lashley drags Rollins up for the Vertigo Suplex! But Rollins fights out! Rollins boots Lashley from a corner, then chops him again and again. He runs, but Lashley follows. Rollins dodges, to slingblade! Rollins clotheslines Lashley out, then fires up. He builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit sends Lashley into barriers!
But Rollins keeps going, to DIVE again! Fans are fired up while Lio is panicked. Rollins puts Lashley in, springboard clothesline! Rollins stomps as fans chant “Burn It Down!” Lio shouts to Lashley, but Rollins mule kicks and runs. Lio swipes at Rollins, and then Lashley hits Rollins with a HUGE Spinebuster! Cover, TWO!! Lashley and Lio grow frustrated, but Lio tells Lashley to end it. Lashley lifts Rollins but Rollins slips out. Rollins leaps over Lashley to send him into buckles, then rolls him up. TWO, and Rollins mule kicks Lashley! Rollins climbs up top, but Lio distracts on the apron. Rollins hops down and the chase is on! Lio goes around, under and out, but Rollins pursues. Lio escapes to the barriers, then back the other way! Only for Rollins to boot him down!
Rollins drags Lio up to snake eyes on barriers! But Lashley attacks Rollins from behind! Lashley takes the time to taunt, but Rollins hits him with a chair!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by disqualification
The Architect gives Lashley the win, but that look in his eyes says it doesn’t matter. Rollins SMACKS Lashley again! They end up back in the ring, and Rollins jabs Lashley before giving him another SMACK! And another SMACK! Lio leaps in but gets a chair shot, too! Rollins SMACKS Lashley then SMACKS Lio, then back again! If this is the Rollins HHH wanted to see, then he got what he wanted. Rollins aims at Lio, to give him the CURB STOMP! Rollins has unleashed his ruthless aggression, but will it bring him back around to Dean Ambrose?
Raw takes another look at the coming new faces.
Lars Sullivan says he’s “not here to fit in or make friends. I don’t care about being loved and adored.” The Leviathan was put on this planet to instill fear. He vows to make everyone suffer!
Lacey Evans vows to use her Woman’s Right to clear out and clean up the Women’s Division, while maintaining her manners.
They’re COMIIIN’! Heavy Machinery will use the power of #SteaksAndWeights to bring the good times and the big fights to the Tag Team Division.
“You wanna play? Play with Nikki!” The Loony Lass has no fear, there’s only chaos. Nikki Cross is on her way, who wants to play?
And of course, last but certainly not least is the #TopOnePercent. The Best Here, the Best There, the Best Everywhere is prepared to rack up #VictoryAfterVictory no matter where he ends up.
3 on 2 Handicap: Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers VS Heath Slater & Rhyno!
Santa Manbeast helped The One Man Band against the Modern Day Maharaja and his Bollywood Boys for Christmas, but now the New Year will see one side get the upper hand. Who will have a good start to 2019?
The bell rings and Mahal starts with Slater. Mahal powers Slater to a corner, but Slater turns it around. Slater honors the ropebreak, but Mahal tries a sucker punch. Slater’s ready for it and throws hands of his own. The Singh Brothers distract and Mahal runs Slater over! Mahal rams his knee into Slater’s back, then puts Slater in the corner. He rams his shoulder in, and Samir tags in. Samir stomps a mudhole then tags in Sunil. The Bollywood Boys stomp a mudhole as they tag back and forth. They double suplex Slater and cover, TWO! Samir drops elbows then does a Bollywood dance before running into Slater’s leg lariat! Mahal is furious and demands a tag. Hot tags to Rhyno and Sunil!
Rhyno rallies and Detroit fires up! Rhyno clubs Samir and whips him corner to corner, to ram his shoulder in! He baits Sunil in and throws him into Samir. Rhyno sandwiches the Singhs, then throws them both overhead! Mahal tags in, but Rhyno is ready with a headbutt and spinebuster! Fans fire up and Rhyno revs it up. Sunil distracts and Samir swipes at Rhyno. Slater flies off the apron onto Samir, but Mahal boots Rhyno! KALLAS! Cover, Mahal & the Singh Brothers win!
Winners: Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers, Mahal pinning
The reunion didn’t work out like Slater & Rhyno wanted, but 2019 is a new year. Will they get back on track in the Tag Team Division? Or is their fresh start already ending?
Dean Ambrose speaks.
“Fresh starts. Everybody seems to be talking about this ‘fresh start’ from the McMahon Family.” But the Lunatic doesn’t need a fresh start. Seth Rollins needs one, though. Did you see how angry he was? He doesn’t look well. Ambrose feels a little sorry for him. But as the Moral Compass of Raw, it is still his obligation to burn down what Rollins holds dear. And fans think this is Apollo Crews’ feel good moment, huh? Ambrose hates those kinds of moments. He will make it his duty to make sure Apollo’s fresh start has a rotten end.
More superstars share their New Year’s Resolutions.
The GLORIOUS Duo couldn’t think of a better way than to shut up The Revival in a tag title defense next week. They will continue to make Raw #AbsolutelyGLORIOUS! The Revival, meanwhile, vow to bring credibility back to tag team wrestling as the new champions. Who will keep this resolution in the first Raw of 2019?
The #LegitHuggable friends want to be THE inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions together. 2019 will be the Year of Boss & Hug. #BankOnIt.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose VS Apollo Crews!
The Lunatic Fringe vows to guide the WWE down the right path, but he himself seems to be going down the wrong one. However, he won’t have to worry about Seth Rollins cashing in a rematch clause in this “fresh start” era. But that also means he can’t use one himself, so he needs to be careful against Apollo Crews. Will Apollo get a major upset to close out the year? Or will he only be upset after Ambrose gets through with him?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin! Apollo dropkicks Ambrose right down and throws hands in a corner! The ref counts and Apollo backs off. Apollo whips but Ambrose reverses, only for Apollo to handspring up and over! Ambrose runs, but things speed up and Apollo hits a back elbow. Apollo walks into a boot, then Ambrose chops. Ambrose whips but Apollo jumps over for a sunset flip! TWO, and Apollo rolls Ambrose, TWO! Ambrose runs but Apollo clotheslines him out! Apollo then asai moonsaults Ambrose down fast! He puts Ambrose in the ring but Ambrose scrambles right out. Ambrose is on the defensive while we go to break.
Raw returns to Ambrose stomping away on Apollo at the ropes. He drags Apollo up and reels him in for a lariat. Cover, TWO! Ambrose keeps his cool as he puts a chinlock on Apollo. Ambrose shifts it into a straitjacket stretch, but fans rally up. Apollo endures the knee in his back and powers his way up out of the hold. Ambrose kicks low then suplexes, but Apollo slips out to dump Ambrose out. Ambrose is annoyed, but he runs into a cradle! TWO, and they both run for double clotheslines! Both men are down and the ref checks. They’re okay to continue, and fans rally up. Apollo sits up first but Ambrose follows. Ambrose runs into an enziguri! Apollo mule kicks and boots, then hits a leaping lariat! Apollo kips up and fires up! He scoops and Samoan Drops Ambrose, covers, TWO!
Ambrose wants a breather but Apollo doesn’t give him one. Apollo lifts but Ambrose fights out. Ambrose gives an elbow but gets an elbow, and Apollo climbs. Apollo leaps for a big crossbody, TWO, standing Shooting Star! Cover, TWO! Ambrose survives being surprised by Apollo’s athleticism, but fans are still on Apollo’s side. Apollo runs in but into a boot. Ambrose runs into an overhead belly2belly! Apollo hits a big corner splash, then another trophy lift like the battle royal! Ambrose rakes the eyes, but Apollo enziguris! Apollo lifts, Crews Control bomb!! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Ambrose survives again, and rolls out of the ring. Apollo sees him, builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit, and Apollo puts Ambrose back in. Apollo hurries up top, leaps, frog splash FLOPS!
Ambrose gets up, grabs Apollo, Dirty Deeds! He crawls to the cover, Ambrose wins!
Winner: Dean Ambrose, by pinfall; still WWE Intercontinental Champion
The Lunatic survives by the skin of his teeth, but he took advantage of Apollo’s misstep to keep the title. Ambrose clutches tight to the belt, but will someone come along to snatch it away in 2019?
Alexa Bliss speaks.
“We’ve seen a lot of changes on Monday Night Raw, between the announcement of the Women’s Tag Titles, brand new talent on the way, and of course, the return of The McMahon Family.” The Goddess will miss running the Women’s Division, but in her short term, she made history. And thanks to the McMahons, she’ll make even more history. Next week will be the premiere of her own talk show, A Moment of Bliss! And the first ever woman talk show host will have her very first guest: Ronda Rousey! Alexa knows Ronda loves Roddy Piper, but make sure you dress appropriate. This isn’t just any show, this is Alexa’s show. Ronda will be in “the presence of a Goddess, not slumming it in some pit.”
Natalya & Ronda Rousey VS Nia Jax & Tamina!
The Queen of Harts had a run-in with the Samoan Dynasty, but now numbers will be even with The Baddest Woman on the Planet by her side. With WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships on the way, will this match have major implications on top of the Raw Women’s Championship hunt?
The moment Ronda and Natty hit the ring, they hit Nia and Tamina! Nia gets away so Ronda goes after Tamina with Natty. The referee restores order as the Samoan Dynasty regroups. Nia tells Tamina it’s fine. Ronda starts against Tamina and throws her right down! Ronda throws knee after knee then dares Nia to tag in. Nia does, and she runs, only to be taken down! Ronda wants the arm already, but Nia stays up. Nia gets free but Ronda is right after her with body shots. Nia puts Ronda in a corner then throws Ronda across the way. Ronda’s right up but gets squashed in the corner. Nia scoops Ronda to slam her down. Nia runs but misses the senton! Ronda tags to Natty while Nia tags Tamina.
Natty shoulders into Tamina then dropkicks her down! Natty snap suplexes Tamina around, then covers. TWO, but Natty puts Tamina in a corner. Natty throws in her shoulder then stomps a mudhole. The ref counts and Natty stops at 4. Detroit fires up as Natty swipes at Nia. Tamina runs in but misses, and Natty scoop slams Tamina! Cover, TWO! Natty goes for the legs but Tamina scrambles to the ropes. Nia drags Tamina out and the cousins regroup. Natty baseball slides them both, then tags Ronda. Ronda climbs, and LEAPS onto them both! Ronda and Natty are in control while we go to break.
Raw returns once more, and Nia tags in. Both Nia and Tamina run Natty over, then taunt Ronda. Ronda coaches Natty but Nia drags Natty up for a headbutt. Nia chokes Natty at the ropes, but stops at 4. Nia drags Natty up again to bump her off buckles. Tag to Tamina, and Tamina stomps a mudhole into Natty again. Tag back to Nia, and fans rally up. Natty fights back with haymakers, but Nia scoops and slams Natty again. Nia continues to taunt Ronda, then throws Natty into a post. Nia drags Natty up to throw her down, then covers. TWO, but Nia keeps her cool. Nia drags Natty up for a cobra clutch, but fans rally up again. Nia thrashes Natty around but Natty endures. Natty jawbreakers out of the hold!
Natty crawls but Nia is in her way. Nia powers her to the corner and tags in Tamina. Tamina throws forearms, then snapmares Natty down. Tamina wraps on a chinlock now, but Natty gets right up. Natty fights back and runs, but into Tamina’s fireman’s carry. Natty slips out and they collide with crossbodies! Both women crawl, but Tamina keeps Natty away from Ronda. Natty shoves Tamina away, hot tags to Nia and Ronda! Ronda fires off on Nia with fast hands! Nia manages to cover up but Ronda throws her, shining wizard! Judo throw! Cover, TWO! Ronda keeps the fire going as she dares Nia to stand again. SUPER WOMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up with Ronda while Nia’s on the apron. Nia returns, picks Ronda right up, and trophy lifts for a slam! Cover, TWO!
Ronda survives but Nia keeps her cool. Nia drags Ronda back up, for another fireman’s carry. Nia climbs high, but Ronda fights back. Tamina tags in as Ronda goes to bomb Nia! Nia fights her off, Tamina SUPERKICKS Ronda down! Cover, TWO!! Tamina and Nia are shocked, but Tamina keeps going. She drags Ronda up, and headbutts her down. She runs to dive but misses the headbutt! Ronda gets Tamina into the armbar! Tamina holds on and Nia drops the leg! But Natty goes after Nia with the discus! SUPERKICK from Tamina! Tamina goes back to Ronda, covers, TWO!! Ronda still lives! Tamina drags Ronda to a drop zone and climbs up high. The Daughter of the Superfly leaps, but her Superfly gets boots! ARMBAR!! Tamina taps, Ronda & Natty win!
Winners: Ronda Rousey & Natalya, Rousey by submission
Another great win for the Baddest Woman on the Planet, and alongside her good friend to boot! With 2018 ending strong, will 2019 be the same for Ronda? Or are her toughest challenges still to come?
My Thoughts:
A really good Raw to finish the year. This “fresh start” seems to be showing more of itself now. First, I was really surprised to see them start with the Steel Cage Match, but I suppose it made sense in a lot of ways. It has the most time to breathe if it starts the show, which allowed it to be a great match, and then there was time for McIntyre to brutalize Ziggler afterward, which really added to everything. McIntyre wants to win the Royal Rumble, as anyone would, but expect Ziggler to put his name in the match and at the very least make sure McIntyre doesn’t win. Rollins has a great promo with HHH and Shane, and it is now official that there are no rematch clauses ever again.
The Battle Royal was great, and I guess it’s fine that Finn didn’t win. Apollo got a great push right here, but sadly it was clear he wasn’t going to win. Rollins has a great match with Lashley, and that includes the cat ‘n’ mouse with Lio, and I liked Rollins going off. This isn’t a Heel turn, this is him getting a new edge that he might need to either get back at Ambrose or get past Lesnar. Ambrose and Apollo had a great match, but again it was clear Apollo wasn’t going to get the win. Fresh start or not, the story dictates Rollins and Ambrose get their blow-off before anyone else takes that title. When that title goes to someone else, that is when the fresh start will truly lock in.
However, the fresh start hasn’t changed everything yet. We still got a silly filler match in Slater-Rhyno VS Mahal & Singhs. It seems Raw wants the inaugural SmackDown Tag Team Champions to struggle even into 2019. With Roode-Gable VS The Revival next week for the titles, things could shake up in the Tag Division real quick. If The Revival win and no rematch clauses, I hope Slater & Rhyno get another “I’ve got kids!” type push so that they at least get a match for the titles. Then in the Women’s Division on Raw, we got another Six Woman Tag, but at least it was really good. Clearly Sasha & Bayley are on the rise towards the Women’s Tag Titles, but I kinda hope it’s a swerve so that a SmackDown team gets it to start. I still want my ridiculous contender system to pan out, too, but that’s wishful thinking.
Ronda & Natty VS Nia & Tamina in the main event was pretty good. For one, it’s women closing Raw, so that’s great. Naturally Ronda & Natty win, it sends everyone home for the New Year’s happy. Nia & Tamina are still strong contenders from Raw’s side for those Women’s Tag Titles. The Raw Women’s Championship is still in question, but this can still be steered towards Ronda VS Becky Lynch at Wrestlemania. Ronda will likely address the issue of her challenger during the premiere of Alexa’s new talk show. I, for one, look forward to seeing the sassy Goddess make this transition in the event she’s not coming back to in-ring action.
My Score: 8.1/10
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Wrestling Dontaku is covered in gold!
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles, NEVER Openweight title, IWGP Global Heavyweight title, and yes, THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, as Jon Moxley defends against the Souled Out Ren Narita!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Togi Makabe & Katsuya Murashima VS Jet Wei & Naoki Sakurajima; Makabe & Murashima win.
- Tiger Mask & Shoma Kato VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- Yuya Uemura & DOUKI VS Great-O-Khan & Francesco Akira; Khan & Akira win.
- Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Desperado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS The House of Torture; Shota, Desperado, ELP & Leo win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Boltin Oleg VS Taichi & Taka Michinoku; Tanahashi & Oleg win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens; Kenta & Chase win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Gabe Kidd; Takagi wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Nic Nemeth VS David Finlay; Finlay wins and becomes the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS Ren Narita; Moxley wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens!
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi took these titles off Fang Revived & The Crown Jewel at Sakura Genesis, but Bullet Club is looking to take them right back! Will Kenta & Chase be the ones to #TurnItAllAround? Or will it be Lights Out here in Fukuoka?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who wins the sequel!
The teams sort out and Goto starts against Chase. The two circle, feel things out, but then Kenta gets in to CLUB Goto down! Chase BLASTS Hashi, then Chase and Kenta stomp away on Goto! The ref reprimands, Kenta backs off, but Chase bumps Goto off buckles. Chase throws body shots, then headlocks for a punch! The ref reprimands, but Chase whips. Goto holds ropes, BOOTS back, then Hashi gets in! Bishamon runs Chase over! Then ZANMAI! Kenta runs in, Goto kicks low and reels him in. Goto snap suplexes Kenta onto Chase! The fans cheer and Goto CLUBS Chase. Goto puts Chase in a corner then whips corner to corner.
Goto runs in, but Chase BOOTS back! BUCKLE SHOT, STO, and SENTON! Fans applaud the string of moves, then Chase drags Goto up. Chase bumps Goto off buckles, tags Kenta, and Bullet Club mugs Goto. The ref reprimands but Chase pretends to be trapped so he can’t let off. Kenta puts Goto in the corner and RAMS into him! Kenta RAMS Goto again and again, then he smothers Goto! The ref reprimands, Kenta tags Chase, and Chase brings Goto out to wrench and BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Chase tries again, TWO! Another cover, TWO! The fans applaud as Goto is still in this, but Chase argues the count.
Chase kicks Goto, stands him up, but Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! Chase CHOKES Goto and puts him in the corner! The ref counts, Chase lets off to argue with him, and that lets Kenta pull Goto’s hair. The ref sees that and reprimands, but Chase tags Kenta in. Kenta stomps Goto, brings him around, and whips to ropes. Kenta then ELBOWS Goto down, BLASTS Hashi for good measure, then goes back to Goto. Kenta drags Goto up but Goto ROCKS Kenta! Kenta staggers back but BLASTS Hashi again! Kenta then blocks a kick to CLUB Goto’s leg! Kenta whips, Goto reverses and runs in, but into a BOOT!
Kenta runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS Kenta down! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling for their corners. Hot tag to Hashi! Chase runs in but gets run over! Kenta forearms, Hashi CHOPS! Hashi sends Kenta into Chase, CHOPS Kenta, then mule kicks Chase! Hashi hits a NECKBREAKER on Chase and the fans fire up with him! Hashi runs at Kenta, clotheslines in the corner, then brings Kenta out to suplex, and hold him! The fans cheer and Hashi SLAMS Kenta down at ten! Cover, TWO! Hashi keeps cool and the fans continue to rally. Hashi drags Kenta up, reels him in, and brings him up, only for Kenta to fight free!
Hashi takes a swing, but Kenta spins him around! Hashi goes to suplex again but Kenta knees free! Kenta blocks the superkick to URAKEN! URAKEN! Kenta runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Hashi LARIATS first! Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Hot tags to Chase and Goto! Goto LARIATS Chase first! Goto runs in at the corner to fire forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA, then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Chase stays in this but the fans rally behind Goto. Goto drags Chase up, fireman’s carries, but Goto fights free! Chase ROCKS Goto, but Goto ROCKS Chase! Chase snarls and comes back to ROCK Goto!
Goto comes back and ROCKS Chase in return! Chase fires another shot, Goto fires a flurry! Chase fires a strike fest, runs, but Goto runs him over! The fans rally, but Kenta runs in with a title belt! The ref reprimands but Goto TOSSES Kenta out first! But Chase has the belt! BELT SHOT!! Cover, Hashi breaks it!! The fans cheer, but Kenta TOSSES Hashi out! Chase gets Goto up, hammerlock and JEWEL HEIST! Cover, Hashi barrels in to break it! Another save from the Head Hunter but Kenta tosses him out! Kenta goes out to CLUB and CHOP Hashi! Chase tucks Goto in, but Goto resists the lift!
Chase still tries, but Goto fights the driver! And then back drops free! Kenta keeps Hashi out as Chase runs to C-TRIGGER! Then fireman’s carry, T K O, THEN CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans fire up! Chase slashes his throat, vowing to end this now! Chase sits Goto up, POINT-BLANK C-TRIGGER!! Goto falls over from that execution shot, but Chase isn’t done! Chase tucks Goto back in, for a- BLOCKBUSTER from Hashi!! Kenta gets in, spins Hashi around, DDT! Kenta hauls Goto up to fireman’s carry, but Goto slips free! Goto shoves, fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up while all four men are down!
The fans rally as Chase and Goto slowly sit up. Chase crawls over to Goto, brings him around, and fires a forearm! Goto fires one back! Chase fires another forearm, so Goto fires back! Chase throws a haymaker now! Goto throws a forearm, and then both men stand. The forearm skeep going, then Chase BACK ELBOWS! Chase lines up a shot, but Goto blocks the knee! Hashi SUPERKICKS! Goto fireman’s carries Chase, Hashi adds on for FIERCE FLASH into position, but Chase fights free! Chase ELBOWS Hashi, C-TRIGGERS Goto, but Hashi waistlocks! Chase grabs the ropes, and the ref, too! Chase turns Hashi around so Kenta can CHAIR SHOT Hashi!!
The fans boo as Hashi goes down in a heap and slumps out of the ring. Chase runs up on Goto to BOOT him! Goto wobbles, but Chase runs, only for Goto to follow! Chase PELES knowing that! Goto roars as he stays up, but Chase dodges the lariat, and Kenta gets in to BOOT Goto down! Bullet Club drag Goto up, double whip, but Goto breaks their double clothesline to DOUBLE LARIAT back! The fans fire up as Goto grits his teeth and rises again! Chase is in a corner, Goto runs in, but into BOOTS! Goto roars, Chase runs in, into the HIDDEN GAP! Goto then LARIATS Chase inside-out! Hashi BLASTS Kenta!
Goto drags Chase up, fireman’s carries, G T W! Hashi is on defense while Goto covers, TWO!! Chase survives but the fans fire up! Bishamon drags Chase back up, gets him in position, but Kenta is back with another belt! Chase kicks Hashi away, slips free of Goto’s grip to LOW BLOW!! BUSAIKU KNEE from Kenta! ROLLING JACKKNIFE from Chase! BULLET CLUB WINS!!
Winners: Kenta & Chase Owens, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
By hook and by crook, Kenta & Chase pull off another heist! But now, that makes them and Bishamon 1-1 this year. Will we get a trilogy over these titles as a Summer blockbuster?
Wait, hold on here! The NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions show up! TMDK’s Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls storm right up and tell Bullet Club it’s time to go belts for belts! Anyone else getting deja vu about this scenario? Wait! Now El Phantasmo & Hikuleo show up! They’re the former NJPW Strong Openweight AND former IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! And they want all those belts back! Things have escalated, and Young Lions do their best to get in here and keep the teams apart. So instead of a trilogy, instead of a remake with new actors, are we going to get a massive, star-studded instant classic?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Gabe Kidd!
The Rampaging Dragon has redeemed this championship by saving it from The King of Darkness! However, The Mad Man of the Bullet Club War Dogs claims NJPW has lost its way and that he will help right the ship! Is Gabe simply chasing his own Moby Dick? Or will he be able to tear down Takagi and bring back what made NJPW the king of pro-wrestling?
Gabe continues to parody Takagi, sporting a brand new hooded robe to copy Takagi’s. He also tries to intimidate Takagi by being right up in his face. The ref tells them back down, but they don’t go far. Gabe even pushes Takagi! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly embodies NEVER!
The bell rings and the fans fire up as the two run in! They RAM shoulders, then fire forearms back and forth! Kidd gets the edge, runs and RAMS Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Kidd! Kidd rebounds to RAM Takagi, and they RAM shoulders again and again! They both flex and roar, and the fans fire up! Kidd forearms, whips, and runs in to clothesline! Kidd snarls then whips but Takagi reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans rally up and Takagi fires JABS and CHOPS on repeat! JAB, JAB, JAB, but Kidd steps into the shots! Kidd CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, but Takagi pushes him back!
Takagi catches Gabe’s haymaker to spin him, but Kidd suplexes first! The fans fire up while both men are down! Kidd gets up first and BOOTS Takagi right outta the ring! Kidd then goes out after Takagi to HEADBUTT! Kidd CHOPS Takagi, whips him to railing hard, then storms around. The fans rally for Takagi but Kidd storms over to him. Kidd SMACKS Takagi off the apron, but Takagi ELBOWS back! Takagi kicks Kidd, SMACKS him off apron, then CHOPS! Kidd frowns, eggs Takagi on, so Takagi fires a forearm! Kidd fires back, they brawl back and forth, then Takagi ROCKS Kidd with a right hand!
Takagi whips Kidd, Kidd reverses! Takagi hits railing so hard, he messes up the camera on that end! But Takagi just shakes the railing in anger! Kidd hurries to find chairs under the ring! Kidd throws one to Takagi but the ref says no, that’s not this kind of match! But Takagi brushes the ref aside and grabs the chair! He and Kidd CLASH chairs like swords! Kidd disarms Takagi, JAMS him low, then aims to HEADSHOT! Takagi drops back, Kidd hauls him up to EXPLODER to the floor! Takagi and Kidd are both down but the fans fire up! Kidd rises, the ring count starts, and Kidd storms around. Kidd rolls in at 5 of 20, Takagi is still down at 10.
Kidd sits like Shibata while Takagi flounders up to his feet. Takagi staggers in the wrong direction! He’s outside at 17! 18! Takagi slides in safe at 19! But Kidd’s right on him for a suplex, and BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and the fans fire up! But Kidd whips Takagi, only for Takagi to fall over in a heap! The ref checks Takagi and Kidd wants this called! The fans rally up for Takagi while he clutches his head. Kidd goes out, gets in Desperado’s face on commentary, but then backs off as Desperado stands up. Kidd goes back to the ring, knowing Desperado can’t do anything to him.
Kidd then brings Takagi up, and CHOPS! Kidd still stares Desperado down, then CHOPS Takagi again. Kidd scuffs Takagi, kicks at him, but Takagi eggs him on. Kidd stands Takagi up to CHOP again! Takagi just gets in Kidd’s face! Kidd CHOPS, Takagi snarls, and Kidd eggs him on. Takagi winds up to CHOP! Kidd staggers away from that shot! The fans fire up and both men steady themselves. Kidd asks via the camera if Clark Connors sees this. Kidd comes back to CHOP! Takagi does feel that one and Kidd eggs him on. Takagi CHOPS and Kidd drops to his knees! Takagi kicks at Kidd now, and Kidd gets up in a huff to CHOP!
Takagi eggs Kidd on, so Kidd CHOPS him on the back! Takagi RIDGE HAND CHOPS! And CHOPS, and CHOPS! Kidd CHOPS, but Takagi just fires up! Takagi CHOPS, Kidd CHOPS, repeat! The fans rally with every CHOP going back and forth! The CHOPS just keep going, but both men are slowing down. Kidd grits his teeth to CHOP again! Takagi JABS! JABS! And JABS! Then CHOP! Kidd growls and feints to BITE Takagi’s forehead! The ref reprimands, the ref tells everyone off, but Takagi LARIATS him down! The fans fire up, and Takagi stands back up. Takagi brings Kidd up to whip and KNEE against ropes!
Takagi runs, Kidd dodges, but into an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint to DDT! The fans fire up again and Takagi stands Kidd back up. Takagi suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi looks around, finds the camera, and he says “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up now that it’s time, and they join in on “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi drags Kidd up, but Kidd BITES his forehead again! Kidd tells off all the fans, but Takagi BITES Kidd back! The fans fire up, Kidd runs up but into an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- SAIDO!! Kidd turns that around and both men are down again! And we’re just 10 minutes into this!
The fans rally but Kidd sits up first. Kidd has a sinister grin as he stands. Kidd winds up, runs, but Takagi gets under the Rebounder to SAIDO! Kidd is back up though! SAIDO! Takagi staggers up, but he gets around! Kidd CLUBS away to stop the suplex, but Takagi runs to ropes and uses those to help the SAIDO! Kidd is dazed and the fans fire up while Takagi rises again. Takagi shakes out the arms, runs in and clotheslines in the corner! Takagi fires up, the fans are with him, and he puts Kidd up top. But Kidd CLUBS Takagi! Takagi climbs to throw headbutts, but Kidd gives them back! Kidd fires more forearms, then has a HANGING GUILLOTINE!!
The ref counts, Kidd drops Takagi to then get him up, for another BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, but Kidd lets up!? Kidd shakes his head and wags his finger. Is this not good enough for him? Kidd puts Takagi in a corner, to ROCK him with a haymaker! Kidd then hoists Takagi up top, to CHOP! Kidd climbs, CLUBS away on Takagi, then goes to the very top! The fans start to worry as Kidd brings Takagi up, for a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Takagi writhes and Kidd grimaces, but then Takagi rises?! Kidd runs up to BOOT, then runs again, into a BOOT! Kidd swings, into a knee and MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!! Kidd survives and the fans are thunderous!
The fans rally while both men are down again. Takagi and Kidd stir, and it’s Takagi that makes his way over to Kidd. Takagi drags Kidd up, pump handles, but Kidd fights the rack! Both men fall back and go to corners. The fans rally as both men slowly rise. Takagi headbutts the buckles to fire up, and Kidd eggs him on! They both run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! And DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! Takagi fires off RIDGE HAND CHOPS, then short arm LARIATS! Kidd stays up!? And he short arm LARIATS in return! Takagi stays up, Kidd talks trash, but Takagi LARIATS!
Kidd still talks trash as he LARIATS back! Takagi LARIATS, Kidd eggs him on, but Takagi’s running out of steam! The fans rally, Kidd LARIATS and LARIATS and LARIATS! Kidd runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT! Takagi runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! But Takagi ELBOWS! And JABS! Kidd HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS! Kidd PALM STRIKES, Takagi JABS, Kidd DISCUS LARIATS! Cover, ONE?!?! Kidd doesn’t question it, he just runs! Into a LARIAT! Takagi runs, to PUMPING BOMBER!! Takagi roars and the fans are thunderous! Takagi hauls Kidd right up, to pump handle, but Kidd turns that into a PILEDRIVER!! Takagi SLIDING D?!!?
The fans are thunderous as both men are defying expectations! Takagi and Kidd sit up and give junkyard dog headbutts. Kidd then forearms, but Takagi responds. They start throwing SLAP after SLAP, but Takagi gives HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Takagi brings Kidd up for boxing elbows! The fans rally with every shot, but Kidd SLAPS, SLAPS and SLAPS with those palm strikes! Kidd still talks trash about fighting spirit, and dares Takagi to show him, so Takagi DECKS him!! Takagi roars, drags Kidd up, and pump handles, for the LAST- NO, Kidd slips free to ripcord and PALM STRIKE!
Kidd HEADBUTTS, but both men stagger around! Kidd reels Takagi back in, PILEDRIVER!! But he’s too dizzy to cover!! Kidd wobbles and hobbles and flops over again! The fans are thunderous as Kidd flounders, finds Takagi and covers, TWO!!! Takagi is still in this, perhaps saved by the delay! The fans rally as both men stir, Kidd drags Takagi up but then staggers away. Kidd shakes his head, refusing to let his own body fail him. Kidd storms up on Takagi as we pass 20 minutes, and he brings Takagi up. Kidd DOUBLE CHOPS Takagi on the back, but that awoke the Dragon! Kidd SLAPS him! And lifts, but Takagi RANAS free!!
Takagi ELBOWS! Kidd UPPERCUTS! Takagi JABS! And HEADBUTTS!! Then SLIDING LARIAT! Kidd’s right up!? He and Takagi run, dodge, REBOUNDING BOMBER?!? Takagi gets Kidd with his own move, then tucks him in for a TAKAGI DRIVER 98!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Kidd survives and the fans are thunderous again! Takagi roars and the fans fire up again! Takagi drags Kidd up, but Kidd shoves him back, and SPITS at him! So Takagi SLIDING D! Then Takagi hauls Kidd up, pump handle, LAST OF THE DRAGON!!!! Cover, Takagi wins!!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
Kidd got the fight he wanted, as both men NEVER gave in! But in the end, it was still Takagi’s win! Kidd may not be the one restoring NJPW to what it was, but will Takagi carry that banner for him?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Nic Nemeth VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!
The Wanted Man won the dream match he always wanted by trumping President Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi, but then The Rebel had to ruin the fun! Nemeth gave Finlay this match so they could settle things once and for all, will Nemeth have two wins in one weekend? Or will Finlay get what he wants in taking this title back?
As Nemeth makes his entrance, Finlay attacks! They brawl on the ramp and fans fire up! Nemeth runs Finlay down the ramp, SMACKS him off the apron, but Finlay kicks him low! Finlay reels Nemeth in but Nemeth back drops him away! The ref reprimands them both but Nemeth sends Finlay into railing! Finlay flounders away but Nemeth gets him up to POST him! Finlay staggers and falls back while Nemeth takes off his jacket. Nemeth stands Finlay up to ROCK with a haymaker, but Finlay kicks low and throws hands back! Finlay RAMS Nemeth into railing! The ref tells them to get this in the ring but Finlay ROCKS Nemeth!
Finlay comes back but Nemeth throws body shots! Nemeth puts Finlay in and fans cheer as this is finally a match. Finlay stands but Nemeth scrapes laces off his face! Finlay flounders away, Nemeth has him in a corner, then SCRAPES Finlay’s face on the ropes! The ref reprimands, Nemeth throws body shots in a corner, then he HEADBUTTS Finlay. Finlay sits down, the fans cheer, and Nemeth drags Finlay up to again scrape laces off the face! Nemeth then CHOKES Finlay on the ropes! The ref counts, Nemeth throws Finlay away, and the fans cheer again. Nemeth looms over Finlay, brings him up, then bumps him off buckles.
Nemeth throws forearms on Finlay, then a ROLLING- FLAPJACK off buckles! Finlay turns things around as Nemeth now writhes. Finlay rains down fists but the ref counts. Finlay lets off but shoves the ref down! The fans boo while Finlay taunts them and says he DGAF! Finlay TOSSES Nemeth out, throws up the Too Sweet, then goes out to RAM Nemeth into the railing! No Man’s Land disappears, but then Finlay RAMS Nemeth back in! The fans rally for Nemeth while Finlay looms over him. The ref reprimands, Finlay says okay, he’ll get this inside. Finlay puts Nemeth in the ring, the fans applaud, and then Finlay covers, ONE!
The fans cheer, but Finlay digs his knuckles into Nemeth’s ribs! The ref counts, Finlay lets off, and Nemeth flounders to ropes. Finlay storms up on Nemeth, CHOKES him in the ropes, then CLUBS him down! Gedo likes it but the fans boo. The ref has Finlay back off, and Nemeth sits up. Finlay drags Nemeth up to whip him hard into a corner! Nemeth falls back, Finlay stacks for a cover, TWO! The fans rally for Nemeth but Finlay stalks him to ropes. Finlay drags Nemeth up to suplex and BROKEN ARROW! Nemeth writhes, Finlay flexes and mocks the HBK pose. The fans boo so Finlay flips them off from the corner.
Finlay watches Nemeth go to a corner, and he hops down. Finlay barks and runs corner to corner to UPPERCUT! Then clothesline! Finlay reels Nemeth in, but Nemeth slips free of the Irish Curse for the OLYMPIC SLAM! The fans fire up while both men are down! Nemeth and Finlay writhe, and Nemeth rises first. The fans rally but Gedo coaches Finlay. Nemeth fires off on Finlay with fast and furious fists, then HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! The ref gets Nemeth to stop but the fans fire up with him! Nemeth bumps Finlay off buckles, brings him around, and bumps him off more buckles! The fans applaud and Nemeth CLAWS Finlay’s face!
The ref counts, Nemeth lets off at 4, then he brings Finlay around, to bump off even more buckles! Nemeth SPLASHES then turns Finlay for a NECKBREAKER! Nemeth then drops ELBOW after ELBOW after ELBOW! The fans clap along with every ELBOW! Nemeth goes to nine, then aims to JUMPING ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Nemeth drags Finlay over to a drop zone, then goes outside. Nemeth climbs up the corner, and MACHO ELBOWS! Cover, TWO! Finlay survives but he coughs and sputters for air. Nemeth stalks Finlay, brings him back up, and whips. Finlay reverses to TACKLE Nemeth out of the ring!
Both men are down on the floor and the fans rally up again. The ref checks, both men are able to continue, and Finlay drags Nemeth up. Finlay fireman’s carries, to TOSS and POST him! Nemeth tumbles away but Finlay stalks him. The ref reprimands Finlay and wants this in the ring, but Finlay takes a lap around the ring to come in red hot! But Nemeth moves and Finlay CRASHES through the gate! The fans go wild seeing Finlay tumble, and then insult to injury, some railing falls over on his face! The ref checks, both men are still able to continue, so a ring count starts. Nemeth and Finlay stir at 5 of 20, and Finlay crawls over to ringside at 10.
Nemeth flounders around, drags himself up with railing at 13, but both men are still outside at 15! Finlay is crawling, Nemeth is floundering, we hit 18! Both men spring in at 19.5! The fans cheer as this match will continue! Nemeth and Finlay stir, and Gedo pounds the mat. The fans rally, too, and both men grab at each other. Finlay throws a haymaker, Nemeth gives it back! They go back and forth, rising to their feet with each shot. Finlay UPPERCUTS, but Nemeth HAYMAKERS! UPPERCUT! HAYMAKER! UPPERCUT! HAYMAKER! Finlay rebounds to forearm, Nemeth fires off a flurry! Nemeth eggs Finlay on so Finlay SLAPS him!
Finlay runs and LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Nemeth survives but Finlay hurries INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!?! Nemeth survives and Finlay is furious, but the fans are fired up! Finlay drags Nemeth up, reels him in, and hoists him up, but Nemeth slips free to a SLEEPER! Nemeth has the body scissors, he’s a backpack on Finlay weighing him down! Finlay drops to his knees, then to the mat! Finlay is flailing, fading, and Gedo is freaking out! Nemeth thrashes around, the ref checks Finlay! The arm drops once! But then Finlay comes back to life! Finlay rises, crawls to a corner, ROPEBREAK, but he keeps climbing!
The fans rally as Finlay goes up higher and higher! SUPER BACKPACK SENTON! Finlay is free but both men are down! The fans rally again as both men stir. Finlay spots Nemeth, crawls his way over, and then drags him up. Nemeth is dead weight, but Finlay just tries again. Finlay says Nemeth is done, and he lifts for a POWER- FAMOUSER!! Cover, TWO!! Nemeth stuns Finlay but Finlay surprises Nemeth, and the fans rally up again! Nemeth runs up, but Finlay bucks the Danger Zone! But Nemeth ducks the boot! The ROLLING ELBOW hits, but Nemeth SUPERKICKS in return!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up again as Finlay survives Superkick 101!
Finlay and Nemeth flounder as we pass 15 minutes. Finlay goes to ropes, stands back up, DANGER- BUCKLE BOMB! Finlay reels Nemeth in for a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Nemeth survives but Finlay doesn’t let off! POWERBOMB!! And then a flip over, into OVERKILL!!! Cover, Finlay wins!!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
The Rebel redeems himself by taking back the belt made just for him! Gedo personally brings the belt back to him, and Bullet Club has more gold in the treasury! Will Finlay prove he’s the Goatslayer by taking down more greats from around the world?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS Ren Narita!
The Maniac shocked a lot of people when he came out of the Windy City Riot on top of NJPW’s mountain. And while he made it past “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs in AEW, he’s following through on his promise to accept all challenges, from the young and the old! The House of Torture’s #SOULEDOUT Son of Strong Style took Moxley up on that, will Moxley regret being a fighting champion? Or will he still head towards Resurgence and a showdown with Shota Umino?
Moxley makes his entrance from the crowd as usual, only to get attacked but Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Sho at ringside! The House of Torture always has to have the upper hand, even if it’s through underhanded means! The fans boo but Narita laughs. Narita goes out after Moxley, but Shota shows up to fight off the House! But the numbers are still in the House’s favor, and Kanemaru WHISKEY MISTS Shota! Narita has a facelock on Moxley while Kanemaru & Sho mug Shota, then Narita SMACKS Moxley off the apron! Kanemaru & Sho drag Shota to the ramp while fans tell them to go home, and Narita grabs a chair so he can CHOKE Moxley with it!
Red Shoes does what he can to get this madness to stop, and Narita lets off. But wait, Sho & Kanemaru are handcuffing Shota! Narita stomps Moxley, Kanemaru stomps Shota! Sho has a chair, and he HEADSHOTS Shota! Shota flops over, Kanemaru and Narita mug Moxley in the ring! Sho joins in on that, and then Sho & Kanemaru double whip! But Moxley DOUBLE LARIATS! Narita has the chair, Moxley kicks low first! Moxley then takes the chair to CHUCK it at Shota! Now the bell rings, and this main event is officially underway! Moxley goes out, brings Narita around, and whips him into railing! And then more railing!
The fans rally as Moxley uses a facelock to drag Narita into No Man’s Land, then DECKS him into the crowd area! The fans fire up as Moxley rains down fists on Narita, right in front of them! Moxley BITES Narita’s forehead! Moxley lets off, drags Narita up, and Young Lions have fans be careful as Moxley drags Narita back to ringside. Moxley RAILING BACK SUPLEXES! Narita hobbles, Moxley puts him in the ring, and the fans cheer. Moxley climbs up in a corner, and he rains down fists! The fans count along, and Moxley goes all the way to TEN, then to SIXTEEN! The fans cheer, and Moxley drags Narita to the apron.
We see Young Lions carrying the handcuffed and unconscious Shota to the back, he won’t be able to help anymore tonight. Moxley has Narita in, but Sho’s still here! Sho anchors Moxley, Red Shoes reprimands, but then Moxley SLAPS Sho down! But that lets Narita BOOT Moxley down! Narita then runs to FLYING KNEE STOMP! Narita grins while fans boo, and Narita whips Moxley hard into railing! Moxley staggers out into No Man’s Land, leans on some railing, but Narita snatches that away to JAM him and SMACK him with it! Moxley staggers away, back to ringside, and Narita puts him in the ring for some stomps.
Moxley eggs Narita on, even SPITS at him, but Narita CLAWS the eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, Narita lets off, and Narita stands Moxley up to SCRAPE along the ropes! Red Shoes reprimands but Narita goes all the way to another corner before he lets off. Narita CHOPS Moxley, then CHOPS again! Moxley eggs him on, Narita CHOPS! Moxley CHOPS and fires forearms! Moxley even puts Narita’s shirt over his face so he can’t see the CHOP! Moxley pulls the shirt up and over so he can CHOP again, and again! Moxley whips corner to corner, Narita reverses, Moxley hits buckles and drops down, so Narita KNEE DROPS right on him!
Narita takes his shirt completely off, throws it down at Moxley, then drags him up. Narita suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Moxley grits his teeth. Narita drags Moxley up, TOSSES him out, and Moxley goes to railing. Narita goes out and CLAWS Moxley’s eyes, then whips him into railing! Moxley slumps down, Narita stands him back up, and Narita brings him out to the crowd again. The Young Lions have fans move aside as Narita CLUBS Moxley. Narita BOWLS Moxley into chairs! Not quite a strike, but Narita picks up the spare as he BOWLS Moxley again! Narita then leaves Moxley behind while fans rally.
Moxley takes a fan’s water bottle to drink and even splash himself with. Moxley stands and staggers his way towards ringside, but Narita JAMS him up with a chair! And SMACKS him on the back! The fans boo while Moxley hobbles his way back to ringside, but Narita taunts him. Narita grins as he pushes Moxley into the ring, then drags him onto the apron. Narita CLUBS away on Moxley, then goes up to stomp him. Narita KNEE DROPS, then gets in Red Shoes’ face. This lets Sho & Kanemaru CHOKE Moxley! The fans boo but The House gets away with another one. Narita then has the legs for a ROPE GUILLOTINE!
Moxley coughs and sputters, Narita shoves him around, then Narita covers. Red Shoes refuses, too many shenanigans! The fans cheer but Narita is upset! Narita goes back for Moxley, drags him up and CLUBS him on the neck! And CLUBS him again! Moxley snarls, Narita fires a forearm, but Moxley fires back! Narita fires another forearm so Moxley fires back! Narita fires a flurry and Moxley wobbles! Narita ROCKS Moxley, runs, but Moxley TOSSES him out! The fans fire up but Narita hurries back in, into a CURB STOMP! Shoutout to the Visionary! Moxley sits down while Narita flops to the floor.
Moxley gets up, says a quick prayer, and then DIVES! Direct hit and Narita goes over railing! The fans fire up while even Moxley is stuck on the railing, and messing up a camera feed. Red Shoes checks, both men are okay to continue, and the fans rally up. Moxley has the title belt right in front of him, that motivates him to rise to his feet! Moxley snarls, goes looking under the ring, and he brings out a TABLE! And then another table! Moxley sets those tables up ringside, and surely American fans would be loving this! Moxley hobbles around, he may have taken more damage from that dive than he thought. But he just gets mad and finishes setting the tables.
Moxley hobbles his way back to where he left Narita, drags him up and over railing, and then uses a facelock to bring him over to the tables. Moxley throws hands to make Narita rest back. Moxley DIGS his fingers in, then ROCKS Narita. Moxley hobbles, grimaces, but fires up as the fans rally again. Moxley goes up a corner, but Kanemaru distracts Red Shoes so Sho can attack! Moxley grabs at Sho but Narita ROCKS Moxley first! Narita goes up after Moxley, Desperado is about to leave commentary at this rate, but Moxley CLAWS Narita’s back! Moxley ROCKS Narita, both men go to the apron, but Narita catches MOxley!
Moxley fires elbows to fight the clinch! Moxley clinches, and he URENAGES Narita through the tables!! The fans and commentary all lose their minds, and Moxley flips Narita off! The House protests but what do they know about fair? Moxley gets back in the ring as the fans rally and the ring count starts. Narita is conscious in the wreckage but even he seems unsure if he can move. Moxley doesn’t let the count get past 7 before he goes out to drag Narita from the wreckage, and he puts Narita in. The fans cheer the savagery and the sportsmanship, and Moxley takes a moment to breathe before he gets back inside the ring.
Narita flounders all the way to the far corner, but Moxley pounds the mat. The fans rally up again as Moxley runs in, but into a BOOT! Moxley clotheslines! Moxley runs but Narita follows to JUMP KICK! Narita runs back in, into a KING KONG LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Kanemaru & Sho coach Narita as he stirs, but Moxley rises first. Moxley slaps some sense back into himself but he still clutches his side. Moxley gets Narita up for the X PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Narita is still in this but Moxley says fine! Moxley tells the House to watch this! DRAGON STOMPS! Shoutout to Bryan Danielson and the fans fire up!
Moxley seethes, we pass 15 minutes, and Moxley calls his shot. Moxley drags Narita up, underhooks, but Narita wrenches out! Narita CHOKES Moxley, and brings him down to the mat! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Narita lets off at 4. Narita falls back to the blue corner, and he grabs his push-up bar! Red Shoes reprimands, the fans boo, but Narita shoves Red Shoes away! Moxley dodges the push-up bar shot to have a SLEEPER!! Narita flails, grabs at Red Shoes, shoves him to a corner then RAMS Moxley into Red Shoes! And then the House attacks! The fans boo as Sho & Kanemaru stomp him down!
Desperado has had it! He gets off commentary and grabs a piece of wood! Despy SMACKS Kanemaru with it, then blocks Sho’s attack with the same piece of wood! Then Desperado SMACKS Sho in the head with the wood! The Rogue Luchador clears the ring of Heel Master and Murder Machine and the fans cheer! Desperado even headlocks them both to bring them away! Now Moxley and Narita are alone, but Narita has the push-up bar! PUSH-UP BAR SHOT!! The fans boo as Narita still gets away with one! Narita laughs as he gets Red Shoes back in and covers Moxley, TWO!!! Moxley survives and the fans are thunderous!
Narita is furious with Red Shoes’ count, but then vows to end it now! But Moxley hits a CUTTER!! Outta nowhere like a Viper! The fans rally up again as Moxley rises. Moxley storms up on Narita, slaps him around, eggs him on, and Narita stands. Narita fires a forearm, so Moxley gives it back! Narita fires another, but Moxley fires back! They go back and forth, forearm for forearm! Moxley gets the edge as he ROCKS Narita again and again! Narita CHOKES Moxley, but Moxley breaks free to ROLLING ELBOW! Moxley runs, but into a SLEEPER! Moxley fades, but then fires back up! The fans rally as Moxley reaches out!
Moxley works towards ropes but Narita shifts things into a COBRA TWIST! Moxley endures, the fans rally, but Narita thrashes around! Moxley keeps fighting forward, ROPEBREAK! Narita lets go in frustration, we hit 20 minutes, and Narita waistlocks! Moxley still holds ropes, so Narita CLAWS the eyes! Then GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Narita growls and storms back up on Moxley to clinch, BLIZZARD PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Moxley survives again and Narita seethes. Narita BOOTS Moxley down, then laughs as he goes outside. Narita climbs a corner, takes aim, but Moxley runs up to ROCK him first!
Moxley climbs, throws hands, then CLAWS Narita’s back! Moxley then brings Narita right up for a SUPERPLEX! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Moxley crawls his way over, covers, TWO!! Narita is still in this but Moxley hasn’t lost his focus yet. Moxley throws HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! The Blackpool Combat Club special! Moxley then clamps on a SLEEPER, but Narita powers him right into a corner! Red Shoes got outta the way in time! Moxley turns things around to snapmare and BULLY CHOKE!! But then the lights go out!? Oh no, the House is at it again! Fans boo as we can’t see anything!
When the lights come up, Red Shoes is down! Evil & Dick Togo are here, and they mug Moxley! Fans boo as they stomp Moxley down! Evil soaks up the heat while the fans tell them to go home! Evil & Dick then go back for Moxley, drag him up, and hit MAGIC KILLER!! The fans boo while Evil goes looking for things, and Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER on Moxley! Moxley says you’re not gonna take him alive! Evil gets a chair, and he runs up to JAM Moxley low! Moxley sputters and coughs, but wait! SHOTA’S BACK! Shota SHOTGUNS Dick, but Evil kicks and whips! Shota stops himself to drop toehold Evil onto ropes!
Shota hurries over, SLINGSHOT DDT to the apron! Then Shota goes up to MISSILE DORPKICK Dick! Then he goes outside to CANNONBALL Evil! The fans fire up with Shota as he tells Moxley-shishou to stand and fight! But Narita runs up with his push-up bar! Shota dodges, then feeds Narita to a DDT! The fans fire up as Moxley drags Narita back up! We pass 25 minutes as Shota helps Red Shoes back in! Moxley hits a DEATH RIDER!! Cover, Moxley wins!!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The Roughneck helps his Maniac mentor thwart the House of Torture! Will Narita have to learn the hard way that cheating doesn’t pay? The House retreats, with Evil giving a lingering glare to Shota, who is still wearing the cuffs! The chain is gone, and Desperado confirms, he used bolt cutters to break the chain.
As for Moxley, he shakes his protege’s hand, and is then presented the belt by Hayato Maeda. Moxley bows in respect, then holds up the belt. Moxley also does photo ops with Maeda, and even gives him a noogie and pretend punches. After that, Moxley gets the mic. The fans cheer, and he takes a moment to bow deeply in thanks to everyone. “Fukuoka, I love you all. But I promise you one thing. No matter what happens out here, no matter what the odds, no matter what the challenge, no matter how bad the odds are stacked against me like tonight, I will fight until my dying breath!” The fans cheer, the streamers fly, and Moxley is ready for Shota and Resurgence!
Moxley makes sure Shota understands, there is respect, but there will also be no holding back. Shota nods and they will meet in one week’s time, in the Toyota Arena in California! Will Moxley hold onto the gold in the Golden State? Or will it be the moment Shota brings about his own Paradigm Shift?
My Thoughts:
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Will Backlash be truly phenomenal?
Cody Rhodes’ first defense of THE WWE Championship could also be his last, because he is up against The Phenomenal A J STYLES! Will The American Nightmare have finished his story only for the next chapter to be cut short?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Randy Orton & Kevin Owens VS Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga w/ Paul Heyman; turned into…
- Street Fight Tag: Randy Orton & Kevin Owens VS Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga w/ Paul Heyman; Solo & Tama win.
- WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat: Bayley VS Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton; Bayley wins and retains the title.
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest VS Jey Uso; Priest wins and retains the title.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Kabuki Warriors VS Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill; Bianca & Jade win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS AJ Styles; Cody wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the Backlash in France Kickoff Show!
The countdown to showtime is on! Join Jackie Redmond, Big E and CM Punk as they discuss, analyze and predict what happens at the first-ever Premium Live Event to ever air from France!
BREAKING NEWS!
Make sure to watch the Kentucky Derby’s kickoff show on NBC today, right after Backlash, because there will be news about WWE WrestleMania 41!
Backstage interview with Jey Uso.
Byron Saxton brings up that Jey Uso was Raw’s number one draft pick. Now he can build on that by becoming the NEW World Heavyweight Champion. How is he feeling? Jey says he’s got goosebumps, Uce. You can’t see ’em, but he’s got ’em. He appreciates Byron being there from day one on Jey’s career, to tonight. This is a career defining moment. Damian Priest is a beast, but Jey’s gotta prove he can stand on his own two feet. And by the end of tonight, Lyon, France and the world will YEET with the new champion, Main Event Jey Uso! Gimme a yeet. Byron says “YEET!” and says we could be looking at the new WHC. Will Jey finally have his moment?
Backstage interview with Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill.
Byron is now with the strongEST duo, and says they are going after Damage CTRL and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Bianca immediately says she is so tired of talking about DMG CTRL. She is done, ready to be done with Kairi, with Asuka, with Iyo, with Dakota, and even Bayley. Taking those titles means DMG CTRL gets stuck on Raw. Why does she have to keep repeating herself? She is tired of hearing herself talk about it! She wants to be done! Jade steps in and says they’re just excited to be NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. They don’t have time for this, they gotta go. Jade & Bianca head out, will they soon be the newEST champions?
WWE shares a special interview with AJ Styles.
Kayla Braxton sat down with The Phenomenal One, and wanted to talk about his new attitude since returning. Styles seems confused as to that phrasing, and she asks what brought this on. New attitude? No, this is focus. He was out, got his mind right, dialed in, that’s where he’s at right now. Then to her next question, he hasn’t been world champion in six years. Is frustration over that what brought this change about? Styles says he looked back and realized he’d gotten complacent. So again, he got his mind right and focused himself. Kayla knows Styles and Cody have never faced each other. Styles says he still respects Cody, but that won’t stop him from beating him.
Then to add to that, these two have been ships in the night. Styles comes into WWE, Cody makes his way out. Does this match resonate on a personal level? Styles say sit isn’t personal, it’s business. But he also takes this business personally. He doesn’t wanna beat Cody, but he has to. Then what happens if he doesn’t? That possibility isn’t in Styles’ mind. He doesn’t want this, he needs this, and he needs it much more than Cody. It took Cody two YEARS to get this title, but it’ll only be 27 days when he loses it. Will Styles bring about a phenomenal end to The American Nightmare’s dream?
Now this is cinema.
Time to make hot, new headlines, and to start some new stories. When the stakes are this high, the world tunes in, and the superstars turn it up. “When one good story ends, an even better one begins.” Are you ready? Ready for war!? History is being made before your eyes as WWE is live from France! Welcome to Backlash!
Randy Orton & Kevin Owens VS Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga w/ Paul Heyman!
The Viper and the Prizefighter have proven to be a powerful duo, and they’ve both had their beef with The Bloodline, plus they have initials that line up, so this just seemed like a natural move! Will #R-KO #JustKeepFighting until they’ve torn down the Enforcer and the Good Bad Guy? Or will The Wise Man’s warning from last night come true?
The fans chant “WE WANT ROMAN!” but Solo tunes that out. The teams stare down, the ref wants them to sort out, but Kevin gets righ tin Tama’s face! And then the brawl is on! The fans are thunderous as the hands fly fast and furious! Tama and Kevin tumble out one side, ORton and Solo on the other! Kevin fires off fists on Tama against the desk! Then he dumps Tama over barriers! Orton SMACKS Solo off the apron, throws more hands, then brings SOlo over to the desks! Solo stops that, SMACKS Orton,m and Tama fires hands on Kevin! Refs and produers rush out here to try and get this intno a match but the fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!”
Security now has to get involved, this is just like last night at the end of SmackDOwn! Kevin and Tama are in the ring, Kevin hits a sTUNNER on a guard! STUNNER again! Kevin grabs at Tama, Tama grabs at Kevin! Nick Aldis storms out here as SmackDown GM, and tells his superstars to stop it already! But alright, if they wanna disregard rules, throw out stunners, then fine! Do whatever you want! Thi sis now a STREET FIGHT!!
Street Fight Tag: Randy Orton &
The fans are thunderous as the bell rings and the brawling continues! Tama CHUCKS the Prime at Kevin! Orton and Solo brawl in the crowd! Kevin fires hands on Tama against the French commentary, then SMACKS him with a bottle! Kevin CHUCKS the Prime jug, shoves the cart over, then SMACKS Tama with the Prime sign! Kevin then SPITS on the sign, throw sit down, and keeps after Tama. Meanwhile, Solo and Orton have brawled up into the bleachers! Solo HEABUTTS Orton, throws up the one, but Orton pokes him in the eyes! Kevin and Tama brawl their way through the crowd, Kevin JAMS Tama up with a fan’s chair!
Kevin SMACKS Tama with the chair, then grabs some railing to SMACK him with that, too! Orton has Solo down, but drags him back up to return to ground level. The fans are thunderous for “K O! K O!” as Kevin keeps after Tama. Solo DECKS Orton in return but then Kevin runs over to attack Solo! We’re getting picture in picture of the same beating! Kevin rains down fists and fans count all the way to TEN, or whatever that is in French. But then Tama grabs Kevin in a SLEEPER! Orton is looking for him in the wrong place! The Bloodline mugs Kevin, the fans taunt them, but Orton doubles back!
Solo whips Kevin into barriers, but then Orton attacks him and Tama! Orton HEADBUTTS, but you never headbutt a Samoan! Solo UPPERCUTS Orton down, but Kevin SUPERKICKS Solo! Kevin TOSSES Solo to ringside! The fans are thunderous again as Kevin gets up on the barriers. Kevin walks along, to then FROG SPLASH Tama on the floor! Orton goes up!? Then he hops down. Orton brings Tama up to SMACK him off steel steps! Orton drags Tama along, back to the desks! The fans fire up for the DESK BACK SUPLEX! Tama writhes on top of the French team’s monitors, but then Orton brings Tama to DESK BACK SUPLEX on the English commentary table!
Kevin SMACKS Solo off steel steps, then pulls the steps apart so he can DDT Solo on the steel! Orton goes looking under the ring, and fans cheer! They bring out trash cans and their lids! Lyon wants tables but they’ll have to wait a moment. Orton SMACKS Tama down with a trash can! Solo staggers up, staggers his way over, and Kevin SMACKS him with the lid! The fans cheer for “E C DUB!” as Orton gives Kevin a kendo stick! Kevin SMACKS, JAMS, then SMACKS Solo again! Solo staggers around, into a TRASH CAN SHOT! The fans are still thunderous as Kevin drags Tama up to put him on the desk. Orton SMACKS Tama! And SMACKS him again!
Orton SMACKS Solo off a desk, throws hands, then he and Kevin go looking for something more. The fans are electric as they each bring out a TABLE! “OUI! OUI! OUI!” echoes out as Orton puts his in the ring while Kevin sets his up ringside. Orton throws hands down on Solo, Kevin fetches Tama, and Kevin drags Tama over to the ring. Tama fights back with fast hands! Kevin SMACKS Tama off the apron, then puts him on the table! Orton finishes setting his table up at the center of the ring, and Kevin goes up to the apron! “SUCK IT!” FROG SPLASH through the table!! Kevin roars right in Tama’s face!
Orton gets Solo in the ring and the fans are loving all of this! Orton grins as he brings Solo up, but Solo UPPERCUTS! Orton wobbles, Solo fireman’s carries! SAMOAN DROP through the table! Orton writhes out of the wreckage but Kevin hurries in! Solo stands, roars, but turns around into haymakers! The fans fire up as Kevin kicks, but no stunner! Solo LARIATS Kevin inside-out! The fans boo and taunt Solo, but Solo tunes that out to call to Tama. Tama rises, he and Solo beat Kevin down. Kevin kicks back but Tama fires stomps and fists! Tama just hammers away on Kevin, then rains down HEADBUTTS!
The fans boo and Tama finally lets off. Solo tosses a kendo stick in, Kevin grabs for it but Tama takes it from him! The fans tell Tama off, but Tama SMACKS Kevin! Solo steps in, Tama hands him the stick. Solo stalks Kevin, then SMACKS him in the ribs! Kevin sits down in a corner, Solo rains down fists on him! The fans rally for Kevin but Tama has a trash can lid. Solo lines up a shot first, and he goes corner to corner for the HIP ATTACK! The fans boo as Solo roars, but now Tama takes his turn. Tama SMACKS Kevin with the lid! And then SMACKS him again! And again! Solo has him stand down, then Solo throws down hands!
Tama returns with a trash can, but Kevin TACKLES him first! Solo SMACKS Kevin with the can! And again! Kevin grabs at the kendo stick but Solo takes it from him to SMACK away again and again! The fans boo as Solo holds up the one. Solo tells Tama to fetch more things, and Tama looks under the ring. Tama brings out another TABLE! The fans cheer the table but The Bloodline is setting it up. Kevin manages to stand while the table is propped up in a corner. Kevin BOOTS Tama then TOSSES him out! But Solo ROCKS Kevin back! Solo gets in Kevin’s face and grins a sinister grin before he throws HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT!
Solo brings Kevin around, whips him corner to corner, but Kevin reverses! Solo crashes through the table!! But Tama LARIATS Kevin back down! The fans rally for Randy, wherever he’s disappeared to, but Tama brings in chair after chair. Tama stalks Kevin as he goes to ropes, but Orton returns! Tama hears the fans cheering and turns around. Orton and Tama stare down, they circle, and Tama fires up! Tama swings, Orton dodges! LARIAT! LARIAT! Orton then dodges to SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans are electric again, and Orton puts Tama through ropes! The fans cheer for the DRAPING DDT!
Even with 11 THOUSAND cheering him on, Orton hears those voices now! R K O!! Cover, Solo breaks it!! Solo throws HEADBUTTS until Orton tumbles out of the ring! Solo goes after him, SMACKS him off the desk, then clears it off! English commentary might end up off the air as Solo drags Orton over. The fans chant “SOLO SUCKS! SOLO SUCKS!” but Solo ignores that again to stand Orton up. Solo HEADBUTTS Orton onto the desk, then climbs up after him. Solo drags Orton up, powers up the thumb, RKO ON THE DESK!!! The fans are thunderous as The Viper strikes outta nowhere! But it was also double-edged given the landing!
Kevin drags himself back up in the ring and the fans fire up as he has Tama to himself! Kevin grabs a chair, “This is Awesome!” as Kevin SMACKS Tama on the back! Kevin sets that chair up, SMACKS Tama with another chair, then sets that chair up. Kevin SMACKS Tama with a third chair, then sets that one up. And then SMACK with a fourth chair, and another SMACK, and another SMACK, before the chair square is complete! The fans are thunderous again as Kevin makes Tama recline back on all those chairs! Kevin goes up, but Tama goes after him first! Tama fires hands, then grabs at Kevin. Kevin fires hands in return!
Kevin ROCKS Tama, adjusts position, but Tama goes up after him! Tama fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT, then goes to the very top! But Kevin turns that around! SUPER FISHERMAN BUSTER through the chairs!!! The fans are absolutely losing it as both men are down in the wreckage! Kevin crawls to a cover, but TANGA LOA drags the ref out of the ring?!? Tama’s brother is here?! Since when!? The Silverback has the steel steps, and he CLOBBERS Randy!! And then he CLOBBERS Kevin! Solo hits an URENAGE on a chair!! The fans boo as Solo drags Kevin up, to SAMOAN SPIKE!!! Cover, Bloodline wins!!
Winners: Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga, by pinfall
Just when the Bloodline looked like they were at their most dangerous, they got even MORE dangerous! Solo leads the OG Guerrillas of Destiny forward in the WWE, is there going to be no stopping them now?
WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat: Bayley VS Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton!
They say all people are created equal, but when a champion is in a Triple Threat, their odds drastic go down! The Role Model only just got this title off Iyo Sky at WrestleMania, but now things have gotten complicated. Bayley and Naomi are friends, and Tiffany is anything but. Will Bayley survive to bring this belt back to the States? Or will there already be a new Women’s Champion on SmackDown?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the numbers spell disaster at Backlash!
The bell rings and the fans sing for Bayley. But Tiffy stays it is still Tiffy Time, and the fans join in on that, too! Then Tiff kicks Naomi, swing son Bayley but Bayley dodges to arm-drag! Bayley runs up on Naomi but Naomi arm-drags! Naomi blocks Tiffy’s arm-drag, whips her away, then splits, but Tiffy handsprings over! The fans cheer this opening exchange, and ‘TIFFY TIME!” echoes out. Bayley shoves Tiff, rolls her up, but Naomi rolls Bayley! Tiff rolls Naomi, but Bayley breaks it! The fans cheer, “That was Awesome!” Bayley runs to ELBOW Tiff in the back, then SLIDING LARIAT from the front! Naomi runs up, into a sweep! Cover, TWO!
Bayley keeps going, she ELBOWS Naomi, but Naomi catches the sliding lariat to a ghost pin! TWO, Bayley cradles, TWO! Tiff gets a DOUBLE JACKKNFIE! TWO!! The fans cheer this second exchange as all three women cool off. Bayley smiles, digging the energy from the fans, and then Bayley and Naomi both kick Tiff! They double whip but Tiff KICKS Bayley! Naomi waitslocks, Tiff elbows free, then Tiff sends Bayley into buckles! Tiff whips Naomi, Naomi slides under, then mule kicks back! Naomi runs but Tiff dodges, Naomi SHOTGUNS Bayley! Tiff kicks Naomi, bumps her off buckles, then runs corner to corner to handspring and BACK ELBOW!
The fans fire up as Tiff snapmares Naomi, runs, but Bayley DECKS her! Bayley runs at Naomi, sunset flips, but Naomi stays up! But Tiff SHOTGUNS Naomi, then STOMPS Bayley! Cover on Bayley, TWO! Tiff covers Naomi, TWO! Tiff is annoyed but the fans are still loving this. Tiff TOSSES Naomi out, brings Bayley up to bump her off buckles. Tiff wrenches and whips then ELBOWS Bayley down! The fans applaud and Tiff brings Bayley up. Tiff CLUBS Bayley, CLUBS her again, but fans sing for Bayley again. Tiff puts Bayley in ropes to CHOKE her! And she doesn’t have to let off in a Triple Threat!
Tiff YANKS the ropes to jam Bayley up, but Bayley fires body shots and forearms! Bayley runs, but Tiff LARIATS her down! Cover, TWO! Tiff is annoyed again but the fans continue to cheer. Tiff stomps Bayley, ROCKS her, and Bayley goes to ropes. The fans rally for Bayley as Tiff CHOKES her again! The erf reprimands but that’s all he can do. Tiff brings Bayley around but Bayley fires body shots! Bayley fires forearms but Tiff knees low! Tiff whips but Bayley goes up and over the corner to roll Tiff up! TWO and Tiff CLOBBERS Bayley! Cover, TWO! The fans have not stopped chanting as Tiff brings Bayley up and around.
Tiff whips again, Bayley ends up in the corner. Tiff then handsprings, but Bayley catches her! For a BIG back suplex, but Tiff lands out! Cartwhele and Alabama SLAM! High stack, TWO! Naomi CLOBBERS Tiff, too! The fans are still thunderous like they have since last night on SmackDown, and Naomi whips Tiff. Tiff holds ropes, BOOTS back, but Naoim comes back to SPEAR Tiff through the ropes! Naomi fires up and the fans fire up again, too! Naomi fires forearms on Tiff, then brings her around to whip. Tiff reverses and Naomi hits barriers! Tiff runs and handsprings to BACK ELBOW! Tiff SHOVES Naomi over into the timekeeper’s area!
Tiff says it’s Tiffy Time, but Bayley DIVES onto her! The fans are thunderous as Bayley rains down fists! Bayley finds Naomi, brings her up, but Naomi ROUNDHOUSES her! Naomi goes up onto the barrier, and then BLOCKBUSTERS to the floor! The fans cheer as Naomi finds Tiff and puts her in. “This is Awesome!” as Naomi KICKS Tiff in the ropes, then twerks right on her! HEATSEEKER! Naomi then hits the SPLIT-LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, Bayley breaks it! All three women slowly rise, and Naomi mule kicks Bayley! Naomi then runs Bayley to BUCKLE BULLDOG in the corner!
Naomi puts Bayley up top, climbs up after her, but Bayley fires hands! Tiff YANKS Naomi down, then climbs up after Bayley! Bayley fights with body shots again, and then Naomi CLUBS Tiff! Naomi brings Tiff out for a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Into the BUTTERFLY STRETCH!! Tiff endures, but Bayley MACHO ELBOWS!! Cover on Naomi, TWO!! Bayley hurries to cover Tiff, TWO!! The fans continue to rally, all three women rise up again. Bayley has targets in both corners, so Bayley sunset BUCKLE BOMBS Naomi! Bayley runs to sunset Tiff, but she sits on it!! TWO!! Tiff swings, into a BAYLEY2BELLY!! Cover, TWO!!
Tiff survives, the fans continue to chant and cheer, and Bayley is beside herself. Bayley CLUBS Tiff, stomps her to a corner and fires off fast hands! The fans cheer, Tiff shoves Bayley away, then POSTS her! Bayley is stuck in the ropes, Tiff drags her back out and fireman’s carries! ROLLING SENTON! Tiff goes up but Naomi YANKS her down! Naomi drags Tiff to the floor and rains down fists! Tiff BOOTS Naomi into barriers, then cartwheels for the ALABAMA- NO, they cartwheel more and more! Tiff has Naomi back up, ALABAMA SLAM on the desk!! The fans are thunderous as Tiff drags Bayley out for an ALABAMA SLAM on the French desk!!
Tiff puts Naomi in the ring, then puts Bayley in. Tiff has them lined up like weeks before, PRETTIEST MOONSAULT- NO, Tiff rolls through as both opponent move! Naomi & Bayley hit a ONE D!! The fans are thunderous, “This is Awesome!” as Bayley and Naomi stare down. They are friends but this is about the title! They fire off forearms back and forth, and Naomi gets the edge! Naomi ENZIGIRIS Bayley down! Then Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Bayley cradles, BAYLEY WINS!!
Winner: Bayley, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Champion)
The Role Model snatches victory away and certainly stuns a portion of the fans! But with how fast this match was moving, will Bayley have to keep up the pace if she wants to stay champion?
Jey Uso prepares backstage.
Solo walks over, as do Tama & Loa. They don’t say anything, but the Bloodline heads out. And then Heyman walks over, shakes his head, then walks on. Can Main Event Jey keep the drama out of his head to YEET the World Heavyweight Championship right off Damian Priest? We find out, because that match is next!
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest VS Jey Uso!
Senor Money in the Bank became El Campeon at WrestleMania, but that’s about the only thing that’s gone well for him. The Judgment Day is looking lost without Mami, is this title match going to be another loss? Or will The Punisher make sure Main Event Jey doesn’t have his crowning moment?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see just who’s getting fed to who!
The bell rings, the fans fire up again and the two stare down. “YEET! YEET! YEET!” echoes out, and Jey gets the fans to bounce again, on all four sides of the ring! The fans cheer, and then they all join in, but Priest grabs Jey’s neck! Jey fires haymakers, but Priest TOSSES Jey to a corner! Jey dodges to then fire off haymakers, “YEET! YEET!” Jey whips, Priest reverses, Jey goes up and over, then “YEET!” The fans cheer again but Priest is getting annoyed. Priest runs up but Jey DUMPS him out! Jey then builds speed, but has to stop as Priest moves aside. Priest cools off, but Jey goes out to LEAP from the apron! Only for Priest to catch him!
Priest runs and RAMS Jey into barriers! Priest brings Jey around to ROCK him, but the fans rally for “USO! USO!” Jey gets in the ring, Priest storms in after him, and the “UCE! OH!” echoes out now. Priest stands Jey up but Jey fires body shots! Priest DECKS Jey! Priest soaks up the cheers and jeers, then waits on Jey. Jey goes to a corner, Priest runs in, BACK ELBOW! Priest runs to CLOBBER Jey! Priest mocks the yeet bounce, covers, TWO! Jey stays in this and the fans stay fired up, but Priest grabs Jey’s arms. Priest has a motorcycle stretch and he digs his knee into Jey’s back! The fans rally for Jey as he endures!
Jey fights up to his feet, but Priest chinlocks. Jey throws body shots, “YEET!” But Priest BELL CLAPS! Jey falls, Priest shakes his head, and Priest says Jey is not next. The fans continue to rally as Priest kicks Jey around. Jey stands, into a KICK! And another KICK! And another, and another! But he ducks the discus to hit a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Jey and Priest slowly rise, Priest stands first. Jey grins as he hruns up to HAYMAKER! And counter punch! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops ‘n’ locks then puts some stank on the HAYMAKER! Priest staggers, the fans fire up, and Jey whips.
Priest reverses, but Jey slips free of the scoop to mule kick! And UPPERCUT! Priest wobbles, Jey kicks, but Priest blocks! Only for the DRAGON WHIP to hit! The fans fire up as Priest ends up in a corner! Jey goes to a corner, the fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and bounce along. Jey runs in, but Priest puts Jey on the apron! Jey GAMANGIRIS in return, then goes up top! Jey leaps, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! The fans continue to rally and Jey catches his breath. Priest is outside, so Jey builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Priest hits barriers! The fans fire up again and Jey nods. Jey hears the ring count, brings Priest up and puts him in at 7 of 10.
But wait, Judgment Day rushes out here! JD McDonagh messes with the ropes to trip Jey up! Priest SPEARS!! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives and JD is furious that their plans still aren’t working! JD coaches Priest but Priest asks what he’s even doing here! Wait, JD is going rogue again? Priest says he doesn’t need any help here! Priest and JD argue, Jey runs up! Jey dodges Priest to SUPERKICK JD! SUPERKICK for Priest! Jey goes up top, USO SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives and Jey is stunned, but the fans are still fired up! Jey and Priest sit up, and Jey throws a haymaker! “YEET!” Priest gives back a forearm, “BOO!”
Jey haymakers, “YEET!” Priest forearms, “BOO!” Both men stand, and then Jey UPPERCUTS! “YEET!” Jey shoves Priest, Priest comes back to ROCK Jey! “NO YEET!” “YEET! NO YEET! YEET! NO YEET!” Priest gets the edge, fires himself up, and swings, into an UPPERCUT! But then Priest UPPERCUTS! Jey SUPERKICKS! Priest ROCKS Jey again! Jey PELES! Priest JUMP KICKS! Both men fall and the fans are thunderous again! They stare each other down and the fans are so loud, this place is rumbling! Priest blocks a kick, kicks back, then gets Jey up for the RAZOR’S EDGE!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans continue to cheer while Priest cools off. Priest brings down the straps, powers up the hand, and waits on Jey. Jey rises slowly, turns around, into the choke grip! SOUTH OF- NO, Jey slips free, then ducks ‘n’ dodges to SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives and the fans are thunderous again! Jey thinks on what he has to do to keep Priest down, and the fans rally behind him as he goes back for a corner. Jey climbs, but now FINN BALOR is here! Finn gets on the apron, Jey SUPERKICKS! Jey then runs in at Priest, but Priest LARIATS! Priest staggers around, choke grip, and SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, TWO?!?
Jey survives Priest’s best shot and the fans are electric! Priest has no idea how, but he works to calm back down. “This is Awesome!” as Priest storms around. Priest fires himself back up, wants Jey to rise, and Jey slowly stands back up. Priest runs up to SPIN KICK! Jey flops back down but Priest tells him to get back up! Jey rises, the fans rally, and Priest SPIN KICKS again! Jey wobbles, drops to his knees, but Priest says one more time! Rise! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” as Jey makes it back to his feet, SPIN- SUPERKICK!! Jey hits another SUPERKICK! And another SUPERKICK! The fans fire up with Jey as he runs in to SUPERKICK at the corner!
Priest wobbles, Jey runs, SPEAR!! Jey goes up a corner and the fans are thunderous! USO SPLASH!!! Cover, JD GIVES HIM THE ROPEBREAK!! Maybe Priest was wrong about needing the help! Jey is beside himself, it’s like being on the other side of Bloodline antics. The fans tell JD off, but JD and Finn both coach Priest back into this. The fans chant, “F U J D!” Jey DIVES onto JD! The fans fire up again and Jey hurries around. Finn runs up, into a SPEAR! Jey leaves The Prince behind to aim at the Punisher. Jey climbs, but Priest hits ropes to trip him up! Priest goes up after Jey, choke grips, SUPER SOUTH OF HEAVEN!!! Cover, Priest wins!!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall (still WWE World Heavyweight Champion)
The Judgment Day didn’t plan this as a team, but they still won as a team to keep the gold with their man! And then Finn & JD have to add on by beating Jey down! That Priest does NOT approve of! He throws JD off, and shoves Finn back! Priest tells them that is enough! Jey’s done, they can leave. Finn & JD don’t understand, but they still listen to Priest. Are things (not) going to be fine with The Judgment Day?
Phillipe Chereau is in the ring.
He thanks the fans for being here this weekend, and for setting the LARGEST GATE of ANY ARENA SHOW in WWE history! Vive la France, vive la WWE!
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Kabuki Warriors VS Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill!
The Empress of Tomorrow & The Pirate Princess reunited under Iyo Sky’s Damage CTRL, and they took control of the Women’s Tag Division. However, the EST is about to lose control, and not in a good way! Will Bianca and Jade bring the storm that washes away the reign? Or will even the strongEST duo not be ready for Asuka & Kairi?
The introductions are made, the titles are raised, and we see who is truly in control!
The teams sort out and the fans cheer for “E S T! E S T!” as she starts against Asuka. They circle, tie up, and Bianca headlocks hard. Asuka pulls the braid and powers out of the hold, but Bianca RAMS her! Neither falls, Bianca fires up, and they start shoving! The fans rally and duel as the forearms go back and forth! Bianca gets the edge, but Asuka SOBATS! Asuka runs, but Bianca blows past her to run her over! The fans fire up and Bianca keeps moving, but Asuka drops. Bianca handsprings, and says kiss this! Asuka runs up, but Bianca bypasses her. Asuka turns hip toss into takedown, TWO! Asuka gets around, IRON OCTOPUS!
Bianca endures as Asuka pulls her arm and twists the wrist! Bianca powers Asuka around for a swinging GUTBUSTER! Asuka flounders away, Bianca runs up but ducks the kick! Asuka ducks a haymaker to drop toehold! Kairi runs up but Bianca DECKS her! Bianca dodges Asuka, reels her in, and suplexes! Bianca kips up again and the fans fire up! Jade reaches out, Bianca tags her in! The fans cheer as Jade and Kairi now face off. Kairi runs up, gets around, but Jade THRWOS her away! Jade flexes, Kairi runs up again, but Jade smothers the spear! Jade lifts, Kairi slips free and kicks Jade in the back! Kairi SLAPS Jade!
Kairi dodges the haymaker, but Jade picks Kairi up for a SWINGING BACKBREAKER! Jade then picks Kairi up for another BACKBREAKER! Kairi writhes, but Jade brings her over, tags Bianca, and they double whip to double hip toss, into a DOUBLE FLAPJACK! The fans fire up as Jade & Bianca say Wakanda Forever and Black girl magic! Bianca then handsprings to MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Kairi stays in this but Bianca stays cool. Bianca drags Kairi up, fires forearms, then whips. Bianca RAMS Kairi in the corner, then climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count all the way to TEN, but Kairi slips under to CLUB Bianca!
Kairi grabs the braid, the fans boo, but Bianca backflips and DROPKICKS! Kairi tumbles out and the fans fire up! Bianca PLANCHAS but Kairi dodges! Asuka ROUNDHOUSES Bianca, then Kairi goes up the corner! Kairi grins as she aims for a SUPER CROSSBODY! The Kabuki Warriors fire up while they stand tall! Kairi gets Bianca back in, covers, TWO! Kairi rains down forearms, then drags Bianca over. Tag to Asuka, Bianca fights back but the Kabuki Warriors mug her. They reel Bianca in but she wrenches out to fire forearms! Bianca runs, but into an ELBOW! Kairi adds a SLIDING D! Asuka adds the SLIDING KNEE! Cover, TWO!
Asuka drags Bianca up while the fans rally. Asuka CLUBS Bianca, kicks her around, then stands on her face. The fans boo, the ref counts, and Asuka steps away. Asuka kicks, Bianca blocks and ROCKS Asuka! Bianca reaches out but Asuka holds her back! Bianca fiefs a forearm but Asuka KICKS! And KICKS! Tag to Kairi, and the Kabuki Warriors double whip. Bianca is int he corner. Kairi sends Asuka in to ELBOW! Kairi runs corner to corner, SLIDING D again! The fans rally while Kairi goes up, FLYING KABUKI FOREARM! High stack cover, TWO!! Bianca survives and Kairi is annoyed, but she tags Asuka.
The Kabuki Warriors stand Bianca up, but Bianca ROCKS Kairi and dodges Asuka’s leap! Bianca hurries to crawl forward, but Asuka is in her way! The fans rally, Bianca JAWBREAKERS free! Roll up, TWO! Bianca stands, into a SOBAT! Asuka snarls, reels Bianca in, but Bianca suplexes first! Kairi hurries back up while both women are down! Bianca and Asuka crawl, hot tag to Kairi, Kairi uses Bianca as a step to BLAST Jade! The fans boo but Kairi smiles. Kairi drags Bianca up, SLAPS her around, but Bianca SLAPS back! Kairi whips, Bianca reveres, but Kairi holds ropes! Kairi ELBOWS Bianca, Asuka tags in! CODE BREAKER!
Asuka holds on, Kairi BLOCKBUSTERS! The fans fire up for the KABUKI SLIDING COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Bianca stays in this and the fans continue to rally. Asuka stomps away on Bianca, drags her around by an arm, and has a MOUNTED ARMBAR! Does Becky know Asuka’s using her move? Bianca endures, fights around, and lifts Asuka up! Torture rack, but Kairi tags in first! Kairi then saves Asuka from the Kiss of Death, and Asuka ROUNDHOUSES Bianca! Kairi goes up, Asuka has Bianca, but Bianca shoves Asuka away! Kairi leaps, Bianca gets under! Kairi hurries to grab the braid! Asuka waistlocks Bianca, but Bianca fights free!
Bianca reels Kairi in to short arm LARIAT! The fans are thunderous as Bianca and the Kabuki Warriors are all down! Hot tag to Jade! And she SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODIES! She gets both Asuka & Kairi! Jade runs, LARIAT for Kairi, BOOT for Asuka! Then a STINGER SPLASHY in one corner, STINGER SPLASH in the other, repeat! Asuka falls out, Kairi runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, Asuka breaks it! Jade is frustrated but she stays focused on Kairi. Jade drags Kairi up, wrenches and scoops, to then trophy lift! MILITARY PRESS SLAM! The fans fire up with Jade as she storm around. But Kairi BOOTS her back!
Asuka tags in, blocks a boot, and then URAKEN! URAKEN! SOBAT! KICK! MULE KICK! URAKEN! ROUNDHOUSE! Jade wobbles, Kairi tilt-o-whirls for DESTINO!! Cover, but Kairi forgets Asuka tagged in! Kairi still drags Jade around, but Jade UPPERCUTS her down! Jade herself thinks Kairi is still legal, but she whips! Kairi holds ropes, BOOTS back, and Asuka makes it clear this time. Asuka waistlocks, Jade throws elbows, but both women kick low! Jade SUPERKICKS! Asuka falls but Jade drags her back up. Jade reels Asuka in, but Asuka RAMS Jade into ropes! The ref counts, Kairi tags in!
Kairi gets around Jade, waistlocks, CLUBS her, but Jade choke grips! CHOKE SLAM! Jade staggers, maybe running out of steam, but she still gets Kairi up. Kairi trips Jade, pushes to a cover, TWO, into an ARMBAR!! Jade endures, Asuka catches Bianca! ARMBAR!! The fans rally while the strongEST team endures double submissions! Jade clasps hands, Bianca moves around, and then they both deadlift the Kabuki Warriors! STEREO POWERBOMBS!! All four women are down and the fans are thunderous! “This is Awesome!” as Bianca bails out, and Jade has both Kabuki Warriors! But they both kick back!
The Kabuki Warriors double whip, Bianca sneaks the tag! Jade KICKS Asuka, gets around Kairi, WHEELBARROW DDT GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO!! Cover, TWO?!?! Kairi survives all that and no one can believe it! Asuka is lurking behind Jade, too! Asuka YANKS Jade down, then sends her into steel steps! Bianca is furious, but Kairi rolls her up! TWO!! Bianca escapes, to SPINEBUSTER! Bianca runs at the corner, Kairi sends her into POST! Tag to Asuka, and they get Bianca up! InSANE DDT!! Cover, JADE BREAKS IT! The fans fire up and now the Kabuki Warriors are shocked! Kairi SLAPS Jade, then tags Asuka.
The Kabuki Warriors get Jade up, URAKEN! URAKEN! SOBAT! KICK! Kairi goes up but Jade blocks a kick to SUPERKICK! Kairi still leaps, but into Jade’s arms! Jade pops Kairi up and around, then into the chicken wings! JADED!! Bianca tags in, she gets Asuka in a torture rack! KISS OF DEATH onto Kairi!! Bianca covers, she and Jade wins!!
Winners: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
And the strongEST become the newEST! Bianca has a Triple Crown in the WWE, and Jade is already a champion just three matches in! DMG CTRL is now stuck on Raw, is this truly the last time Bianca has to worry about them?
WWE announces the opening round for The King & Queen of the Ring tournaments!
Monday Night Raw has decided on their brackets! First, in the Queen of the Ring: Ivy Nile VS Zoey Stark! Shayna Baszler VS Zelina Vega! Lyra Valkyria VS Asuka! Iyo Sky VS Natalya! And then for the Kings: Drew McIntyre VS Finn Balor! Kofi Kingston VS Rey Mysterio! Ricochet VS Ilja Dragunov! Gunther VS Sheamus! A star-studded show to be sure, but who will take one step closer to WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia?
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS AJ Styles!
So much has already been said about this first-time-ever match-up over the last few weeks. Ships passing in the night, both men respecting each other but also both needing to win this match to solidify their legacies. Will the American Nightmare keep the dream alive? Or will The Phenomenal One end this new story before it even begins?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly undisputed!
The bell rings and the fans are singing and jumping around so much, this place is practically shaking! Cody and Styles circle, tie up, and go around. They break, the fans fire up again, and the two reset. They tie up again, go around, and Cody puts Styles in a corner only for Styles to turn it around. They go along the ropes, into the corner, and they break again. Styles and Cody tie up again, Cody headlocks, and he hits a takeover. Styles keeps his shoulders up, pushes his way to a headscissor, but Cody pops free. The fans rally again as the two circle. Styles shoots in, gets a leg, but Cody rolls free.
The fans duel between Cody and Styles as the two reset again. The two feel it out, tie up, and Styles headlocks. Styles grinds the hold, hits a takeover, but Cody keeps his shoulders up. Cody pushes to a headscissor, Styles kips free, but Cody hits another headlock takeover! Styles headscissors again, Cody bridges, grabs at Styles, but Styles pulls thar arm down. Cody headstands, pops free, goes for the headlock, but Styles rolls through! Cody waistlocks, Styles waistlocks, they switch and switch, but Styles puts Cody in the corner! The fans cheer the exchange but Cody steps up. Styles shoves Cody, but Cody SLAPS Styles!
Styles staggers away as Cody gets him back for last night! The fans fire up behind Cody, and he resets with Styles. They tie up, but Styles knees low! Cody still puts Styles in a corner to CHOP! Styles CHOPS! Cody CHOPS! Repeat! The fans “WOO~” with every CHOIP, and Styles gets CHOP after CHOP! Styles headlocks, Cody powers out, then Cody drops, hurdles and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Cody cartwheels to give the Stardust to Styles! The fans are thunderous as the two reset again. The fans chant for “STARDUST! STARDUST!” The two knuckle lock, Styles kicks low then fires off CHOP after CHOP!
Styles whips and DROPKICKS Cody! Payback for the payback and the fans sing for the Phenomenal! Styles runs, but Cody back drops him away! Styles writhes and the fans fire up with Cody! Cody covers, ONE, but he clamps on with a chinlock. Styles endures, fights up, but Cody CLUBS the arm. Cody reels Styles in, suplexes, and holds Styles up! The fans cheer as Cody goes all the way to TEN before the GOURD BUSTER! Styles sputters, Cody looms over him, then Cody brings Styles up. But Styles RAMS him into a corner! Styles hammerlocks an arm and RAMS that shoulder into buckles! Styles wrenches the arm again, to hit a AMRBAR DDT!
The fans duel again as Styles brings Cody up. Styles wrenches the arm to WRING it out! Cody writhes, but Styles hammerlocks the arm to keep Cody down. Cody endures, fights up, and the fans rally. Cody throws forearms on Styles but Styles keeps the wristlock! Cody ROCKS Styles, runs, but Styles kitchen sink knees! The fans sing again, Styles brings Cody up to KICK him! And KICK him again! Cody crawls but Styles stalks him. Styles taunts Cody, kicks, but Cody blocks to hook Styles up, BACKPACK CRADLE! TWO, Cody tries again! TWO, RHODES UPPERCUT! But Styles PELES back!
The fans continue to rally while both men are down! Styles goes to ropes, stands up, runs back in, but Cody sends Styles into ropes! Styles gets jammed up and flops out of the ring! Cody builds speed and DIVES into a haymaker! Styles drags Cody out to SMACK off the English desk! The ring count starts, but Styles refreshes that. Styles drags Cody back up, to SMACK him off the desk again! Cody flounders around, Styles looks to the French desk. French commentary asks him not to, but he still clears their desk off! Styles brings Cody over, but Cody sends Styles into steel steps! Cody gets in the ring and the fans rally back up.
Cody drags himself up with ropes, Styles flounders to the apron, but Cody brings Styles up! Styles fires hands, Cody hits back, then Cody bumps Styles off buckles! Fans chant “Too Sweet! WOOP WOOP!” while Cody drags Styles up the corner. Styles throws body shots, but so does Cody! The fans fire up, and Cody lifts Styles! Stalling- NO, Styles slips free and YANKS Cody down! A hard landing for both men and Cody scrambles to a corner. Cody stands, but Styles storms up on him! Styles Electric Chair Lifts Cody, for a SLAM! Cody writhes on the Prime logo while the fans sing for The Phenomenal again.
Styles runs to LIONSAULT onto knees! Cody saves himself there, and both men are down! The fans cheer while Styles sputters and both men sit up. Styles drags himself to a corner and stands while Cody rises at center. Styles runs up but Cody counter punches! And counter punches again! And again! And again, and again! Cody whips, Styles reverses but Cody FOREARMS! Styles stays up, runs in at the corner, but Cody goes up and over! SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up again and Cody feels it! The cameras are shaking from the power of the fans! Cody runs, springboard, BEAUTIFUL DISASTER KICK! Cover, TWO!
The fans continue to rally as Cody keeps his focus. Cody rises, the fans continue to sing, and Cody throws hands. Cody springboards again, but Styles catches him to another Electric Chair! But Cody victory rolls it, TWO! Styles fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Cody stays in this, the fans cheer, and Styles grits his teeth. Styles rises again, hobbling on that banged up leg. Cody rises, Styles runs up, but Cody dodges! BULLDOG! Both men are down again but Styles rolls to the apron. Cody steps out after him, “This is Awesome!” as Cody reels Styles in! But Styles suplexes first! APRON BRAINBUSTER!!
Cody sputters while on his feet, then flops over! Both men are down on the outside, the fans sing for The Phenomenal, and the ref checks Cody. Cody is somehow still in this, and the ring count climbs. Styles rolls in at 3 of 10, then goes back out. SLIDING KNEE, BLOCKED! Cody hits a POWERBOMB through the French commentary table!! The fans chant “OUI! OUI! OUI!” while both men are down again! The ring count starts again, both men are still down at 5 of 10! The fans count along, we pass 7, then 8! Both men stand at 9, and slide in safe at 9.5!! The fans are thunderous as this main event continues!
Styles flounders to a corner, runs up on Cody, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so they start throwing forearms back and forth! The fans are torn as the shots keep going! Cody fires hands, as does Styles, then both men ROUNDHOUSE! Both men fall and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as both men go to corners. Both men drag themselves up, fire up, and they both run in! They fire furious fists, then Cody throws body shots! Styles blocks to fire the PHENOMENAL BLITZ! Cody ducks the lariat to JAB, JAB, JAB! Flip! Flop! Fly and a little extra, BIONIC ELBOW! Cover, TWO! The fans are still electric as both men are down!
Both men sit up, Styles grabs at Cody but Cody kicks him away. Cody pounds the mat, the fans fire up with him, and Cody springboards! CODY CUT- NO, Styles dragon sleepers! Inverted suplex, into a gut wrench! Cody flips through to have Styles up! But Styles slips free! Cody runs in, into a BOOT! CORNER SNAP SUPLEX!! Cody slumps down the buckles and the fans sing for The Phenomenal again! Styles drags Cody up and around, scoops him and hits a BACKBREAKER! Cody is down in a drop zone and Styles goes to the corner. Styles aims from the apron, springboards, 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as Cody survives and Styles is frustrated. Styles stalks Cody, torture racks, and hits a BURNING HAMMER!! Cover, ONE?!?!? WHAT?!?! Cody punches himself and is all fired up! The fans are volcanic seeing this, but Styles KICKS, punches, repeat! Cody blocks a kick, spins him around, then springboards to CODY CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!!! Styles survives and Cody is beside himself! The fans rally as Styles crawls to the apron and Cody rises. The fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this has to end somehow! Styles is in a corner now, Cody shakes his head. Styles tells him to bring it! They both run in, Cody LARIATS Styles down first!
The fans fire up again as Cody has a second wind! Cody storms around, calls his shot, and then dragon sleepers! CROSS- SNAPMARE! Styles ducks the lariat to PELE! Cody goes to a corner, Styles runs in, but Cody puts him on the apron! Styles ROCKS Cody and Cody staggers away! Elbow pad off, Styles springboards, PHENOMENAL- SUPERKICK!! Both men are down again and the fans continue to cheer! Cody drags Styles into a KIMURA!! Cody learned this from The Beast! Styles is caught in the body scissors, endures as Cody twists that elbow joint, and the fans duel as Styles fights up!
Styles manages to deadlift Cody off the mat, to SPINEBUSTER! Styles drags Cody up into position now, but Cody kicks free of the Clash! Cody BOOTS Styles, dragon sleepers, CROSS- NO, Styles turns things around again! Styles kicks, reels Cody in, STYLES- NO, Cody fights that off to back drop! Styles sunset flips, Cody sists on it! TWO!! Styles swings, Cody dodges to go up and up and SUPER CODY CUTTER!!! The fans are volcanic again as Cody rises! Cody says this is it! Dragon sleeper, CROSS RHODES!!! Cover, Cody wins!
Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall (still Undisputed WWE Champion)
That match was Just Too Sweet! A truly phenomenal match, but that just shows how The American Nightmare is undeniable! Will Cody keep writing this incredible “sequel” to his story?
My Thoughts:
I know “Phenomenal” has been used a lot because of how AJ Styles was on this show, but it is truly a fitting adjective for this year’s Backlash. Lyon, France as a crowd definitely proved they were the right location. They were non-stop energy between both last night on SmackDown and right here for Backlash, it added to everyone’s energy, including my own, so much fun. Opening with the Bloodline match was a bit surprising, but it was a great move given it turned into a Street Fight. And the surprise of the night happened here with Tanga Loa making a debut. I did not see that coming, I honestly thought he was still with NJPW, but here he is, and that’s awesome.
The Triple Threat was a great follow-up for that tag match, especially with how WWE has learned from other places how to book a Triple Threat that almost never slows down. They didn’t constantly boil it down to 1v1 pairings until closer to the end, and it was great seeing Naomi and Bayley take Tiff out with a tag team finisher to get there. Bayley’s quick pin win is great for everyone, we can definitely get some more of Bayley and Naomi 1v1 and same for Bayley and Tiff 1v1. Great promo from Jey with The Bloodline, because it was actually more powerful that they didn’t speak. It was just Jey knowing that The Bloodline is getting more dangerous and outta control, and in a way, it’s because Jey left at a pivotal moment.
Priest VS Jey for the world title was a great match, and a solid halfway point on the card. Turns out that Judgment Day can interfere on Priest’s behalf and not muck it up, but Priest still doesn’t like that they’re beating up on people when, in Priest’s opinion, it’s not needed. I’m still sensing that Priest could be leaving Judgment Day because he’s trying to do things in a respectable way and they wanna stay vicious, “pack of wild dog” Heels. Something’s gotta give, and either way, I’d love seeing Priest VS Finn for the title. Great picks for those King & Queen of the Ring brackets, but with McIntyre VS Finn in round one, I feel like so much of the tournament is determined right there.
Great Women’s Tag Team Championship match, though it got a bit wonky in the middle when ref and Kabuki Warriors lost track of who was what. But either way, great to see Bianca & Jade defying the go-home math. They stood tall with Naomi and Bayley last night, and they still won the titles here tonight. Bianca’s grudge against DMG CTRL didn’t cost them, and now with some teams moving around, we can get some fun, fresh match-ups for these titles. And then, the fans just never stopped losing their minds during Cody VS Styles, taking what was a great match and making it feel truly awesome. But I figured Cody would retain, he just got the belt and there is any number of match-ups for him to still do.
Maybe Styles’ story after this is sorting things out with The OC since they’re all still on the same brand. There are still plenty of factions they can feud with for the Summer, like The Pride, Legado, and the Logan-Theory-Waller friends. Maybe Styles also gets in on King of the Ring, as SmackDown’s bracket wasn’t announced yet.
My Score: 9.2/10
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